Inherited Traits vs. Learned Behaviors

Which of these is an inherited trait?

• Ability to read

• Being right handed

• Liking country music

• Pierced ears

Which of these is a learned behavior?

• Having naturally curly hair

• Eye color

• Shape of your nose

• Ability to hit a baseball

A cat has 8 kittens, 5 females and 3 males. Which statement best describes the characteristics of these kittens?

• All of the kittens will look exactly like their mother.

• All of the kittens will look exactly like their father.

• The male and female kittens will look like both the mother and the father.

• The male kittens will look like the father, and the female kittens will look like the mother.

Which of these does a child inherit from his parents?

• Saying the alphabet

• Speaking English

• Eye color

• Favorite color

Which of these has the greatest effect on how tall a child will grow?

• Genetic material from both parents.

• Genetic material from the shortest parent.

• The height of the oldest sibling.

• The average height of the other siblings.

What factor most affects whether a student has a cleft chin or a smooth chin?

• The genes inherited from the parents of the students.

• The diet of the student.

• The environment where the student lives.

• Whether the child has a big mouth or a small mouth.

What statement best describes the relationship between inherited traits and learned behaviors?

• Inherited traits and learned behaviors are both present at birth.

• Inherited traits come from genes and learned behaviors are learned through the environment.

• Learned behaviors come from genes and inherited traits are learned through the environment.

• Inherited traits and learned behaviors both come from genes.