Jean-Baptiste Lamarck - Biography.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck - Biography. French botanist and zoologist Birth August 1, 1744 Death December 18, 1829 Place of Bazentin-le-Petit, France Birth Known for Formulating an early theory of evolution based on inherited characteristics Studying invertebrates Career 1778 Joined the French Academy of Sciences 1781 Was appointed botanist to King Louis XVI 1788 Accepted a position at the Jardin du Roi (King's Garden) in Paris 1793 Taught zoology at the Museum of Natural History, Paris 1809 Published the essay 'Philosophie Zoologique' ('Zoological Philosophy'), in which he suggests that characteristics developed during a creature's lifetime may be inherited 1815-1822 Compiled Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres (Natural History of Animals without Backbones) Did You Lamarck was the first known person to use the word 'biology.' Know Today, scientists believe evolutionary changes develop by natural selection of random genetic mutations, not necessarily due to changes in the environment as Lamarck believed. Although Lamarck's theory of evolution has been proven false, he was one of the first people to correctly observe that species have changed over time. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.