1. Acquired vs. Inherited Traits

2. Characteristics = Traits
You are a unique individual
Characteristics (eye color, basketball skills, height, blood type, etc.) about you are called traits

3. Inherited Traits Received from your biological parents
Heredity = passing of genes from parents to offspring
Examples: natural eye color, hair color, height, blood type

4. 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)

5. 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!

6. Inherited traits & Sex Sexual Reproduction
Half of genes from mother (egg)
Half of genes from father (sperm)

7. 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