Acquired vs. Inherited Traits

Ms. Wells, Life Science

Characteristics = Traits

• You are a unique individual• Characteristics (eye color, basketball

skills, height, blood type, etc.) about you are called traits

Inherited Traits

• Received from your biological parents• Heredity = passing of genes from

parents to offspring• Examples: natural eye color, hair

color, height, blood type

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)

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!

Inherited traits & Sex

• Sexual Reproduction• Half of genes from mother (egg)• Half of genes from father (sperm)

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