1. Physical Characteristics of Plants and Animals
How are inherited and acquired characteristics different?

2. Physical Characteristics
Physical characteristics are the outward appearance of organisms.
These can be inherited (come from the parents) or acquired (changed during the life of the organism.)

3. Inherited Physical Characteristics
The coat color of cats is an inherited characteristic. This feature came from the cat’s parents.

4. Inherited Physical Characteristics
Our body coverings are also inherited from our parents.

5. Inherited Physical Characteristics
Sensory organs like eyes, ears, and noses are inherited physical characteristics.

6. Inherited Physical Characteristics
Body Structure is inherited from our parents.

7. Inherited Physical Characteristics
Plants inherit characteristics from their parent plants, too!
Type of leaves, colors of flowers, and types of fruit are all inherited characteristics.

8. Inherited Physical Characteristics
The leaf type is inherited from the parent plant.
Shape, size and color can differ.

9. Inherited Physical Characteristics
Flower color and shape is inherited from the parent plants.

10. Inherited Physical Characteristics
The type of fruit produced by a plant is inherited from its parents.

11. Acquired Physical Characteristics
These characteristics change over the life of the organisms.
These characteristics change due to outside factors or development over time.

12. Acquired Physical Characteristics
Additional weight gain is an acquired characteristic.

13. Acquired Physical Characteristics
Hair length or color can be changed. This is very easily observed in humans.

14. Acquired Physical Characteristics
Characteristics can change due to injury.
Lizard that has lost its tail. It will grow a new one.
Dog that has lost a leg. He will not grow a new leg!

15. Acquired Physical Characteristics
Plants acquire characteristics throughout their lives, too. For instance their roots get longer.

16. Acquired Physical Characteristics
The amount of leaves and branching on plants are acquired over time.

17. Behavioral Characteristics
In order to survive with an ecosystem, plants and animals act in distinctive ways called behaviors.
A behavior is a response to a change in the environment.

18. Plant Behavior Characteristics
Plants respond to light, water, gravity and touch.

19. Plant Behavior Characteristics
Plant roots grow down, while stems grow up.

20. Plant Behavior Characteristics
Vines will grow up a support or structure.
Leaves close up when touched.

21. Plant Behavior Characteristics
Leaves grow toward light

22. Animal Behavior Characteristics
Animals are born with certain behaviors that allow them to survive.
These are called instincts.

23. Animal Behavior Characteristics
A duck knowing how to swim across a lake.
Birds building different types of nests.

24. Animal Behavior Characteristics
Migration and Hibernation are also instincts.

25. Animal Behavior
Animals can also acquire behaviors as they grow and develop. Can be a result of environment or through learning.
Learned behaviors are shaped by experience.

26. Learned Behaviors A dog can learn to roll over.
A bird is taught to fly by its parent.
A bear learns to fish for food.