🧬 Topic Summary
Inherited traits are characteristics passed down from parents to offspring through genes. These traits are determined by the genetic material you receive from your parents and are present from birth. Examples include eye color, hair color, and natural talents.
Acquired traits, on the other hand, are characteristics that develop during your lifetime due to environmental factors, experiences, and learning. These traits are not encoded in your genes and cannot be passed down to future generations. Examples include learning to play a musical instrument, developing a skill like swimming, or acquiring knowledge through education.
🧮 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms with their correct definitions:
- Term: Genes
- Term: Inherited Trait
- Term: Acquired Trait
- Term: DNA
- Term: Environment
- Definition: Characteristics developed during a lifetime.
- Definition: The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
- Definition: Traits passed down from parents to offspring.
- Definition: Units of heredity that determine traits.
- Definition: The hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph using the words provided: Inherited, Acquired, Genes, DNA, Environment.
__________ traits are passed down from parents through __________. These are determined by __________ which is the hereditary material. __________ traits, however, are influenced by the __________ and are not passed down to offspring.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Explain, in your own words, how both inherited and acquired traits contribute to making you a unique individual. Provide specific examples.