Learned/Acquired vs. Inherited

Which is an example of a learned behavior?

• A parrot saying hello
• A weaver bird building a nest
• Butterflies flying south for the winter
• A bear hunting fish

Traits of a basketball player
- is the youngest of 3 children
- has blonde hair
- is good at handling the ball and dribbling
Which question would help you determine which trait on the list is an acquired trait?

• How many siblings do you have?
• Do both of your parents have blonde hair?
• Have you always been good at dribbling the basketball?
• Are your parents tall?

Characteristics of a sparrow.
1. has two wings
2. has hollow bones
3. builds a nest in a safe place
4. lays eggs
Which question should you ask to find out which characteristic of a sparrow is an instinct?

• Why do sparrows build nests in secure places?
• Why are sparrows so light-weight?
• Do all birds lay eggs?
• How far can sparrows fly?

Characteristics of an Eastern Box Turtle
- can live 50 years
- will hide in its shell when frightened
- has a dark shell
- eats mushrooms, berries, fruits, worms, and insects
Which question can be asked to find out which characteristic is a learned behavior?

• Do all eastern box turtles like the same food?
• Do eastern box turtles in other states live for 50 years?
• Do eastern box turtles in other states have the same color of spots?
• Do all eastern box turtles hide in their shells when they are frightened?

Think about a cow.
Which question can be asked to learn about the inherited physical traits of the cow?

• How old is the cow?
• Has the cow been fed today?
• Is the cow tame enough to pet?
• Why does the cow have brown fur?

Genes cause all the children in a family _____.

• to have curly hair
• to be as tall as their dad
• to have the same color eyes
• to have some of the same traits

A girl observes her brother and records some behaviors she saw.
Which is a learned behavior?

• blinking
• reading
• sleeping
• swallowing

Gregor Mendel was a scientist that studied the inherited traits in pea plants.
Which of these could have been one of the observations about inherited traits that he recorded?

• The plants with purple flowers grew in the shade.
• The plants with yellow pods received more water.
• The plants with shriveled ppods were growing in sandy soil.
• The plants with green seeds came from parents with green seeds.

Which statement is true?

• Behaviors are never inherited.
• Behaviors are always inherited.
• Inherited traits are controlled by genes.
• Inherited traits are not passed on to offspring.

Which question could you ask about frogs to find out if a characteristic is a learned behavior?

• Do all frogs like the same food?

• Do frogs live in all 50 states?

• Are all frogs cold-blooded?

• Do all frogs go through metamorphosis?