The key difference between Charles Darwin and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck lies in their theories of evolution and how they explained the process of change in species over time.
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Lamarck's Theory: Lamarck proposed the idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics. He believed that organisms could change during their lifetime and pass those changes on to their offspring. For example, he suggested that a giraffe's neck became longer because ancestral giraffes stretched their necks to reach higher leaves, and this trait was then inherited by the next generation.
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Darwin's Theory: In contrast, Charles Darwin introduced the theory of natural selection. He proposed that variations exist within species, and those individuals with traits that are advantageous for survival and reproduction are more likely to pass on their traits to the next generation. This process leads to gradual evolution over time, based on the survival of the fittest.
In essence, both contributed to the understanding of evolution, but Darwin's theory was supported by more substantial evidence, including observations from his travels and studies of various species, while Lamarck's ideas have largely been discredited in favor of Darwin's natural selection.