1. Traits
Inherited vs. Acquired

2. Introduction-Lawyers
Just imagine you have received a call from a lawyer. He calls you into his office and you find out that a long lost and very wealthy great great uncle has suddenly passed away. He had worked hard all his life and had invested his money wisely. He had also invented several very small but extremely important computer parts which he had patents on. He has left you all his money and the rights to his patents. Sounds great right?
The above story illustrates two ideas in life. Your uncle worked hard and by his industry had acquired his wealth. You on the other hand have inherited your wealth. Animals and plants have traits that they either inherit or acquire.
Don’t define acquired or inherited traits at this time. Only this as an introduction only. You will explain the difference in detail using the rest of the presentation. Have the students pull out a piece of paper and begin taking notes. Prompt them to look for key ideas and definitions through the presentation.

3. What are traits?
Traits are qualities, features or other things that distinguish the organism. Traits come in two varieties: acquired and inherited.
Use this definition to explain what traits are. You do not need to define acquired or inherited at this time as you will do that through the rest of the presentation.

4. Where do traits come from?
Chromosomes- Our DNA, contain specific areas that have genes.
Genes- Specific areas on a chromosome that gives us our traits.
Explain to the students that we have different chromosomes and that each chromosome has many different genes on them that express different traits in all living things .

5. Inherited Traits
Like our story, some things can be inherited. In organisms, inherited traits must come from a parent or other ancestor. A trait may seem to skip a generation or even two or three, but if a trait shows up it must have been present in an ancestor. Inherited traits include things such as hair color, eye color, muscle structure, bone structure, and even features like the shape of a nose. Inheritable traits are traits that get passed down from generation to the next generation. All plants and animals that reproduce pass on traits to their offspring.
Describe Inherited traits using this explanation.

6. Examples of Inherited Traits
Detached (A)/Attached Earlobes (B)
Rolling your Tongue
Briefly explain the Inherited traits using the pictures as a reference.

7. Inherited Traits Having Dimples Being Right or Left Handed
Having Naturally Curly Hair

8. Inherited Traits
Cleft Chin
Allergies
Freckles

9. Inherited Traits Seeing the colors red and green (colorblindness)
Inter-digital hair
Widow’s Peak
Eyelashes longer than 1 cm.

10. Acquired Traits
Just like your uncle, animals can acquire useful abilities. These acquired traits can not be passed on genetically. You can't inherit your uncle's knowledge, skills, ideas or memories and it doesn't work that way with other organisms either. Acquired traits include things such as calluses on fingers, larger muscle size from exercise or from avoiding predators. Behaviors that help an organism survive would also be considered acquired characteristics most of the time. Things like where to hide, what animals to hide from and other behaviors. For plants, acquired characteristics might include bending because of wind or growths resulting from insect bites.
Describe acquired traits using this definition and explanation.

11. Examples of Acquired Traits
Professional athletic ability
Ability of a mouse to learn a maze
Scar’s on a persons body
Use the following pictures to describe the corresponding acquired trait.

12. Acquired Traits Eye color with colored contacts (not natural color)
Music ability of a piano player
Knowledge you have from your science class

13. Check your Knowledge Are the following traits inherited or acquired?
Flower petal color
Tree Height
Professional Athletic Ability
The ability of a mouse to learn a maze
The color blindness of a person
The scars on a person’s body
Your natural eye color
The music ability of a piano player
A widows peak on a persons forehead
The knowledge about your science class
Read the questions out loud to the students and have them respond to the questions by raising their hands. The answers to this slide are acquired 3,4,6,8,10. Inherited 1,2,5,7,9.

14. Activity
Using your assigned partner take an inventory of your partners traits by visually looking at them and by questioning your partner. Record the correct response by checking yes or no on the survey sheet. Then compile the data for all students in your row by writing the number of each in the line next to yes or no.
Pair the students up with their partner at the same desk for this activity. Hand out one worksheet for each student. The students should answer each question about their partner then check with the other two students and include their own data for the total and place that in the line next to the responses.

15. Quiz Questions
1. What are the main differences between acquired traits and inherited traits? (1-2 sentences) 2. What types of traits do we inherit from our parents?(List and explain 5 traits) 3. How might a living species acquire certain traits? (List and explain 3 ways)
Have students take out a piece of paper and answer the questions. Have them number the questions and put their name on the paper. Also have the students turn in the quiz before they leave.

16. References Materials for this lesson plan were adapted from
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