Inherited and Learned Traits

Front

What are inherited traits?

Back

Inherited traits are characteristics or features that are passed down from parents to their offspring through genes, such as eye color or hair type.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

Front

What are learned traits?

Back

Learned traits are behaviors or characteristics that an individual acquires through experience or interaction with the environment, such as riding a bike or speaking a language.

Front

Give an example of an inherited trait in animals.

Back

An example of an inherited trait in animals is the fur color of a dog, which is determined by its genetic makeup.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Front

Give an example of a learned behavior in animals.

Back

An example of a learned behavior in animals is a dog learning to sit on command after being trained by its owner.

Front

How do inherited traits differ from learned traits?

Back

Inherited traits are genetic and passed from parents to offspring, while learned traits are acquired through experience and interaction.

Front

What is an example of an acquired physical trait?

Back

An example of an acquired physical trait is a scar from an injury, which is not inherited but developed over time.

Front

What is the role of the environment in shaping learned behaviors?

Back

The environment plays a crucial role in shaping learned behaviors as individuals adapt and learn from their surroundings and experiences.

Front

What is instinctive behavior?

Back

Instinctive behavior is a natural, unlearned behavior that is performed correctly the first time, such as a sea turtle heading to the ocean after hatching.

Front

How can you determine if a behavior is instinctive or learned?

Back

To determine if a behavior is instinctive or learned, ask if the individual automatically knows how to perform the behavior without prior experience.

Front

What is an example of a trait that can be both inherited and learned?

Back

Language can be both inherited (the ability to learn language) and learned (the specific language spoken).