1. Acquired vs. Inherited Traits

2. 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

3. Inherited Traits Received from your biological parents
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. 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.

7. 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?”

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

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

10. Number 1
Someone is bilingual.

11. Number 2
You know how to swim.

12. Number 3
You have a hitchhiker’s thumb.

13. Number 4
A man is blind from a firework accident.

14. Number 5
A girl can roll her tongue.

15. Number 6
You have calluses on your feet.

16. Number 7
A pea plant has purple flowers.

17. Number 8
Captain Kirk can make the vulcan hand sign.

18. Number 9
Harry has a scar on his head.

19. Number 10
A boy has a birthmark on his back.

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

21. Number 12
My brother is very good at basketball.