Adaptation question?

Question

A scientist collects wild rabbits that live at sea level and moves them to the mountains. One year later, the scientists discovers that the same rabbits have largest lungs, which help them breathe the thin mountain air. The scientists returns the rabbits to sea level. Will the offspring of the rabbits have larger-than-normal lungs? Explain.

Would be nice if answers would no be answered with just simply yes or no, and explaination is needed.

Answer 1

The scientist found that the SAME rabbits' lungs had grown larger in one year. Thus the change was ACQUIRED due to environment, not genetics. When the rabbits are returned to sea level and breed, their offspring will have the same kind of lungs as their parents did before moving to high altitude.
[There were, in the 19th Century, scientists who thought that acquired traits could be passed on genetically. The Tarzan books reflect this idea; Tarzan's educated ancestors gave him the ability to learn to read alone in the jungle, with only a few books he found there, while he was being raised by the apes. And his grand physique that he got from living with apes, was passed down to his own son.]

Answer 2

An adaptation like that could take years. Since the rabbit was returned to its original habitat and the need for larger lungs is not necessary, this particular trait will not be fixed into the species' DNA. Therefore, its offspring will have lungs the size necessary for its sea level habitat.

Answer 3

so are you saying that the relocated rabbits have increased lung capacity or their offspring have increased lung capacity? please clarify. since this can influence your answer.

as for the returned rabbits:
you can argue that the rabbits will revert back to the orignal lung capacity since there is no need to maintain that adaption; maintaining unnecessary adaptions is energetically inefficient. "if you don't use it, you lose it"

think of it as a body builder working out to build muscle mass for a competition. if he quits training, he well lose muscle definition.

Answer 4

no, since there is no genetic adaption involved, only a temporary physical adpation.