2. Acquired vs. Inherited Traits 7 January 2011

3. Characteristics = Traits
A characteristic of an organism may be inherited or acquired.
You are a unique individual.
Characteristics about you are called traits.
Examples: Eye color, basketball skills

4. Inherited Traits Received from your biological parents
Examples: natural eye color, hair color, height, blood type.

5. Acquired Traits Developed during life (not born with it) Examples
Things you learned
(riding a bike, reading, writing)
Things that happened to you
(short hair, cut-off finger)

6. Acquired traits end with you!
CANNOT pass on acquired traits to offspring
NOT in DNA/genes!
Example: Your kids won’t be born with a missing arm if you cut off your arm first!

7. Some traits are both! Skin color is a combination trait
Inherited part:
Receive genes for skin color from parents.
Acquired part:
Amount of time in the sun determines level of tan.

8. Let’s Practice! Take out a sheet of notebook paper and number it 1-12.
For each example, write down whether you think the trait is acquired or inherited.
Think: “Was this organism programmed from birth to have this trait?”

9. Example: Dimples
Is this an acquired trait or an inherited trait?

10. Dimples – Inherited Trait!
This child has genes from her parents that gives her dimples.

11. Number 1
Someone is bilingual.

12. Number 2
You know how to swim.

13. Number 3
You have a hitchhiker’s thumb.

14. Number 4
A man is blind from a firework accident.

15. Number 5
Sarah can roll her tongue.

16. Number 6
You have calluses on your feet.

17. Number 7
A pea plant has purple flowers.

18. Number 8
Captain Kirk can make the vulcan hand sign.

19. Number 9
Harry has a scar on his head.

20. Number 10
Sam has a birthmark on his back.

21. Number 11
A bush has trimmed limbs.

22. Number 12
Kilam is very good at basketball.