Acquired and Inherited Traits in Biology - Definition and Key Differences
In biology, traits are characteristics that make each living organism unique. Some traits are acquired during one’s lifetime due to environmental influences and personal experiences, while others are inherited from parents through genes. This page will help you differentiate between acquired and inherited traits, explain their significance, and offer examples to clarify these concepts. We will also explore how scientists like Lamarck, Darwin, and Mendel contributed to our understanding of these traits.
Acquired Traits
What are Acquired Traits?
Acquired traits are characteristics developed by an individual during their lifetime.
They occur due to factors such as environment, lifestyle, nutrition, practice, or injury.
These traits are not programmed by the DNA and thus cannot be transmitted to the next generation.
Examples of Acquired Traits
Improved athletic skills through training (e.g., a weightlifter’s muscle size).
Language proficiency or the ability to play a musical instrument.
Scar formations from accidents or surgeries.
These acquired traits examples in humans show that such traits are shaped by experience and environment rather than by genetic inheritance.
Darwin, Lamarck, and Acquired Traits
Early scientist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that acquired traits could be passed on to offspring. For instance, he suggested that giraffes developed longer necks over generations because their ancestors stretched their necks to reach high leaves.
Later, Charles Darwin provided extensive evidence that contradicted this idea. According to Darwin, acquired traits do not alter the genetic material and, therefore, are not inherited by future generations.
Inherited Traits
What are Inherited Traits?
Inherited traits are characteristics passed from parents to offspring through genes.
They are encoded in the DNA and influence features like physical appearance, certain behavioural tendencies, and predisposition to specific diseases.
A single human cell contains thousands of genes, which together determine the inherited characteristics of an individual.
Examples of Inherited Traits
Natural hair colour (e.g., black, brown, blonde)
Eye colour (e.g., blue, green, brown)
Blood group (e.g., A, B, AB, or O)
Susceptibility to certain genetic conditions
These inherited traits examples highlight how genetics plays a key role in passing on specific attributes from parents to children.
Difference Between Acquired and Inherited Traits
The table below provides a concise comparison:
Mendel’s Contribution to Inherited Traits
Gregor Mendel, through his work on pea plants, established the foundations of genetics and explained how inherited traits are passed on. His laws of inheritance include:
Law of Dominance
When an organism has two different versions (alleles) of a trait, only one version (dominant) is expressed in the offspring, while the other (recessive) remains hidden in the F1 generation.
Law of Segregation
Each individual has two alleles for each trait. During gamete (egg or sperm) formation, these alleles separate so that each gamete carries only one allele of a pair.
Law of Independent Assortment
The alleles of different genes (for different traits) separate independently of one another during gamete formation, leading to variations in the offspring.
These laws help us understand the difference between acquired and inherited traits with examples of dominant and recessive characteristics in various species.
Additional Examples in Humans
Below are examples of inherited and acquired traits examples in daily life:
Inherited:
Freckles
Attached or detached earlobes
Rolling the tongue (genetic ability)
Acquired:
Pierced ears
Ability to ride a bicycle or drive a car
Changes in muscle tone due to regular exercise
Quick Quiz (With Answers)
Try this short quiz to check your understanding:
1. Which of the following is an acquired trait?
A. Eye colour
B. Height determined by genes
C. Learning to swim
D. Blood group
Answer: C. Learning to swim
(It depends on practice and environment, not on genetic factors.)
2. Which law of Mendel states that the alleles of one gene separate independently from the alleles of another gene?
A. Law of Dominance
B. Law of Segregation
C. Law of Independent Assortment
D. Law of Variation
Answer: C. Law of Independent Assortment
3. Which of the following is an inherited trait in humans?
A. Playing a musical instrument
B. Skin colour
C. A scar on the knee
D. Tanning from sunlight
Answer: B. Skin colour
Related Topics
FAQs on Acquired and Inherited Traits: Differences, Examples, and Explanation
1. Why are acquired traits not inherited?
Acquired traits reflect changes in an individual’s phenotype due to environmental influence or personal choice. These changes do not affect the genetic code (DNA) and hence cannot be passed to offspring.
2. Can you give some acquired traits examples in humans?
Yes. Skills like playing the piano, developing muscles from regular exercise, or learning a new language are acquired traits as they arise from experience and effort rather than being genetically inherited.
3. How do inherited traits affect our appearance?
Inherited traits come from our parents’ genes, which determine physical attributes such as hair colour, eye colour, facial features, and certain health predispositions.
4. What is the key difference between acquired and inherited traits with examples?
Inherited traits come from parents through DNA (e.g., eye colour or blood type), while acquired traits develop during one’s lifetime due to lifestyle or environment (e.g., scars or language skills).
