August Weismann
1834-1914
German biologist who was an early adherent of Darwin's theory of evolution and became famous for his studies on heredity.
He denied that organisms could inherit acquired characteristics, touching off an important debate between his followers and the opposing neo-Lamarckians, who believed organisms could inherit acquired characteristics. Weismann's views gradually won the day in the early twentieth century, especially through the advent of Mendelian genetics.
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