Heredity and Learning

Heredity and Learning

Plants and Animals

Both plants and animals interact with inherited traits and learned traits. You need to understand each one of these as they can sometimes be difficult to determine.

What is a trait?

Traits are physical characteristics or behaviors that are passed down from parent to offspring. (Offspring are the babies.)

Now that we understand traits...

Let's apply this to inherited and learned characteristics and behaviors.

Multiple Choice

This peacock has very colorful feathers. Are these inherited or learned?

• Inherited

• Learned

Remember...

Inherited traits are traits animals receive from their parents at birth or that come naturally without practice or learning.

Learned is it a bit different though...

For an animal to perform certain behaviors they have to learn them first by watching other animals or by being taught by their parents.

Multiple Choice

That pack of wolves are grouping together to prepare for a hunt. Which is it?

• Learned

• Inherited

Let's try another one!

Multiple Choice

What was that an example of?

• Inherited

• Learned

Great!

Hopefully we understand the difference between learned and inherited traits. Let's try some practice!