Inherited and Acquired Traits

Which of the following describes an inherited trait?

• Bears have thick shaggy fur.

• Bears learn where the best berries grow.

• Baby bears figure out how to climb trees quickly.

• This bear is wet because he’s been catching salmon.

Charlie’s nose looks just like his grandfather’s nose. This is an example of

• nurture.

• heredity.

• environment.

• learned behavior.

The language you speak, how you wear your hair and what music you like to listen to are all examples of

• DNA.

• heredity.

• acquired traits.

• inherited traits.

Why is a person’s height something that is both inherited and acquired?

• A person’s height is determined completely by DNA.

• Height is neither in a person’s DNA nor affected by the environment.

• Height is determined completely by what environment a person lives in.

• A person’s potential height is inherited, but they might not get enough nutrition to reach it.

Some of Minerva’s ________ are that she is 5’2, speaks English and Spanish, has brown hair and green eyes and wants to be a filmmaker when she grows up.

• traits

• DNA

• genes

• heredity

“Nature vs. nurture” is a debate about

• whether a trait is learned or inherited.

• the traits of plants vs. the traits of animals.

• whether animals can teach humans new traits.

• whether a trait was acquired outdoors or indoors.

A characteristic of elephants is that they

• have large ears.

• have very good memories.

• make trumpeting sounds when upset.

• all choices are correct

• none of the choices are correct

True or False: Bald eagles have white heads, which is an inherited trait.

• True

• False

Which of the following is an example of a “nature vs. nurture” question?

• What is Samantha’s favorite TV show?

• When did Samantha get that sun burn?

• Which parent did Samantha inherit her hair color from?

• Is Samantha’s sense of humor inherited, or did she learn it?

Which of the following statements is true?

• You get new acquired traits all your life, but once you acquire them they never change.

• You are born with inherited traits, but they change over your lifetime as you learn new things.

• Your inherited traits don’t change, but your acquired traits can change over your lifetime.

• Both your inherited and acquired traits are unchangeable from the moment you’re born.