Inherited and Acquired Traits

The passing down of traits from parent to offspring.

• heredity

• inherited

• reproduction

• acquired

Characteristics passed from parents to their offspring are called _________________.

• acquired

• inherited

A behavior that is developed by observing others or by being taught is a 

• learned behavior 
• inherited trait
• adaptation 
• function

Tags

NGSS.3-LS3-2

What is NOT an example of an inherited TRAIT?

• eye color
• tongue rolling
• height
• speaking a language

Tags

NGSS.3-LS3-1

Which of these is not an inherited trait?

• a bird building a nest
• a turtle burying its eggs
• a bear hibernating in winter
• a horse pulling a plow

Which best describes an inherited trait?

• a characteristic one chooses to express
• a characteristic one receives from the food one eats
• a characteristic that is passed on from one's parents
• a characteristic that is influenced by one's surroundings

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Which characteristic is inherited?

• hair color
• sleeping late
• enjoying hiking
• loving to read

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Which best explains why a child may look like his father but is not able to play basketball as well as him?

• Physical characteristics are inherited, but the ability to shoot a basketball is not.
• The ability to shoot a basketball is inherited, but physical characteristics are not. 
• The child chooses to look like his father, but he does not choose to play basketball.
• he hates playing basketball so he doesn't care if his dad can play.

A scientist observes sea otters using rocks to break open clamshells. Which of these investigations would best help the scientist determine whether this skill is a learned or an inherited behavior?

• Determining what sizes and kinds of rocks are used most often by sea otters
• Determining whether shellfish are an important food source in the diet of sea otters
• Raising young sea otters away from adult otters that use rocks and observing whether the young otters use rocks
• Observing families of sea otters over time to see whether adults that use rocks have offspring that use rocks

Traits that are developed as a results of your environment and experiences

• Inherited
• Acquired