Charles Darwin
known in Lamarck's day, and were not known until long after
Darwin's, when the pioneering work of Mendel was rediscovered at
the turn of the twentieth century. But animal breeders had long
since discovered certain principles of breeding for desired
characteristics, and acquired characteristics played no part in
this process. Only through proper training could one find out if
a hunting dog had favourable qualities. But the training did not
create those characteristics in the dog's offspring.
Lamarckianism was now discredited, and the question of
evolution remained a mystery. Many scientists rejected evolution
and the Great Chain of Life feeling that its concepts had no
place in biological science. The key was produced by the theorist
of the "dismal science" of economics, Thomas Malthus. Malthus
said that human (and animal) populations increased at a geometric
rate, whereas food supply increased only at an arithmetic rate.
Therefore population was continually outstripping food supply,
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