Acquired vs. Inherited Traits

Characteristics = Traits A characteristic of an organism may be inherited or acquired. You are a unique individual. Characteristics about you are called traits. Examples: Eye color, basketball skills

Inherited Traits Received from your biological parents Examples: natural eye color, hair color, height, blood type.

Acquired Traits Developed during life (not born with it) Examples Things you learned (riding a bike, reading, writing) Things that happened to you (short hair, cut-off finger)

Acquired traits end with you! CANNOT pass on acquired traits to offspring NOT in DNA/genes! Example: Your kids won’t be born with a missing arm if you cut off your arm first!

Some traits are both! Skin color is a combination trait Inherited part: Receive genes for skin color from parents. Acquired part: Amount of time in the sun determines level of tan.

Let’s Practice! Take out a sheet of notebook paper and number it 1-12. For each example, write down whether you think the trait is acquired or inherited. Think: “Was this organism programmed from birth to have this trait?”

Example: Dimples Is this an acquired trait or an inherited trait?

Dimples – Inherited Trait! This child has genes from her parents that gives her dimples.

Number 1 Someone is bilingual.

Number 2 You know how to swim.

Number 3 You have a hitchhiker’s thumb.

Number 4 A man is blind from a firework accident.

Number 5 A girl can roll her tongue.

Number 6 You have calluses on your feet.

Number 7 A pea plant has purple flowers.

Number 8 Captain Kirk can make the vulcan hand sign.

Number 9 Harry has a scar on his head.

Number 10 A boy has a birthmark on his back.

Number 11 Puppies from the same litter have similar fur color.

Number 12 My brother is very good at basketball.