Lamarckism suggests that changes in the environment can directly influence the characteristics of an organism. Which of the following examples would support this idea?
A mouse developing sharper teeth over generations due to a diet primarily consisting of hard nuts.
A bird population adapts to its environment through random genetic mutations.
Polar bears evolving white fur to blend in with the snow and ice in their habitat.
Genetic variations in a fish population result in different color patterns.
Lamarckism proposes that organisms can acquire new traits or characteristics during their lifetime in response to environmental changes and pass them on to their offspring. In this example, the polar bears evolving white fur is a direct response to their environment. The bears with lighter fur that better blended with the snow and ice would have had an advantage in hunting and survival, increasing their chances of reproducing and passing on the trait of white fur to the next generation. This aligns with the Lamarckian concept of acquired characteristics being inherited. Hence, the correct answer is option 3.