Table: Difference Between Acquired and Inherited Traits
Traits are features or characteristics observed in living organisms, such as hair color, height, or the ability to roll the tongue. These traits help to distinguish every individual and are important in understanding the concepts of genetics and inheritance.
Traits can be classified into two main categories: inherited traits and acquired traits. Understanding their differences is essential for students learning about heredity and evolution.
What are Inherited Traits?
Inherited traits are features passed from parents to their offspring through genes. These traits are present at birth and are determined by DNA within the chromosomes. Inherited traits cannot be modified by individual choices or environmental factors during one's lifetime.
Some common examples include blood group, eye color, natural hair color, attached or free earlobes, and the ability to roll the tongue.
To explore this further, visit Heredity and Genetics and Evolution.
- Inherited traits are coded in the genes received from parents.
- They remain unchanged unless a genetic mutation occurs.
- These traits are observed across generations.
What are Acquired Traits?
Acquired traits develop during an organism's lifetime as a result of individual experiences or environmental influence. These traits are not present at birth and are not coded in the DNA. As a result, acquired traits are not passed on to the next generation.
Typical examples are scars from injuries, the ability to swim, speaking a certain language, and muscle development due to regular exercise. Practicing the piano or developing artistic skills are also acquired traits.
Read more about trait development at Principles of Inheritance and Variation.
- Acquired traits are influenced by environment, practice, or lifestyle.
- They cannot alter genetic material.
- They are lost or gained during life, but are not inherited by children.
Key Definitions
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inherited Trait | A characteristic received genetically from parents, present from birth. | Natural eye color, blood group. |
| Acquired Trait | A characteristic gained due to experience or environment during life. | Muscles from exercise, knowledge of a language. |
Comparison: Inherited vs Acquired Traits
| Aspect | Inherited Traits | Acquired Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Genes (from parents) | Environment / individual experiences |
| Presence at birth | Yes | No |
| Can be passed to children | Yes | No |
| Can environment affect? | No | Yes |
| Examples | Blood group, attached earlobe | Swim skills, scar on knee |
Scientific Significance
Understanding the difference between inherited and acquired traits helps explain heredity, evolution, and variation among living organisms.
Inherited traits follow the basic principles of genetics, like Mendel’s Laws, while acquired traits highlight the organism's interaction with its environment.
Explore genetic principles at Mendelian Genetics.
Key Examples
- Inherited Traits: Eye color, blood group, widow’s peak, ability to roll tongue.
- Acquired Traits: Pierced ears, learning a musical instrument, riding a bicycle.
A child inherits the blood group from parents, but will not inherit a scar that a parent obtained from an accident.
Similarly, learning a new language is an acquired skill, not transmitted genetically.
Practice Questions
- Differentiate between inherited and acquired traits with examples.
- Explain why acquired traits do not get transferred to offspring.
- Give two inherited and two acquired traits seen in humans.
Next Steps for Learning
- For more, visit Difference Between Genotype and Phenotype.
- Understand traits in-depth at Inherited Traits.
- Start practicing with questions from Heredity and Evolution.
Summary
Inherited traits are transferred genetically and appear in offspring, while acquired traits arise due to environment or personal effort and are not inherited. Recognizing this distinction is important for understanding how traits are passed within families and how organisms adapt during their lives.
For deeper clarity on this and other biology foundational topics, explore more resources at Vedantu Biology.
FAQs on Acquired vs Inherited Traits: Definitions, Differences, and Examples
1. What is the key difference between acquired and inherited traits?
Inherited traits are passed from parents to offspring through genes and are present from birth, while acquired traits develop during an individual’s lifetime due to environmental factors or learning and are not inherited by the next generation.
2. Are acquired traits passed to offspring?
No, acquired traits are not passed to offspring. They result from environmental influences or personal experiences and do not alter an individual’s genetic material, so they cannot be inherited by the next generation.
3. What is an example of an inherited trait?
Inherited traits include features such as eye color, blood group, and the presence of attached or free earlobes. These traits are determined by genes inherited from parents.
4. Can inherited traits be changed?
No, inherited traits cannot be changed by environmental factors or learning. They are determined by DNA and remain constant unless mutations occur in the genetic material.
5. What are some examples of acquired traits in humans?
Examples of acquired traits in humans include:
- Learning to ride a bicycle
- Ability to speak a language
- Building muscle strength from exercise
- Getting a scar from an injury
6. How do inherited traits pass from parents to children?
Inherited traits are transmitted from parents to children through genes carried on chromosomes during reproduction. These genes encode the information that determines specific characteristics in the offspring.
7. What is meant by 'hereditary' traits?
Hereditary traits are characteristics that are passed from one generation to the next via genes, such as blood type, hair color, or height. The process is known as heredity.
8. Is the ability to swim an inherited or acquired trait?
The ability to swim is an acquired trait because it develops through learning and practice during an individual's lifetime and is not inherited from parents through genes.
9. Why can't acquired traits be inherited?
Acquired traits cannot be inherited because they do not cause changes in the genes (DNA) of reproductive cells. Only genetic changes in germ cells are passed to offspring; experiences or skills gained during life are not encoded in the DNA.
10. Give two differences between acquired and inherited traits in tabular form.
| Inherited Traits | Acquired Traits |
|---|---|
| Passed from parents to offspring via genes | Developed during an individual’s lifetime |
| Unaffected by environment or learning | Result from environmental factors or experiences |
11. What do Mendel's experiments demonstrate about inherited traits?
Mendel’s experiments with pea plants showed that inherited traits follow specific patterns of inheritance and are controlled by discrete units called genes. These traits are passed predictably from one generation to the next.
12. Can environmental factors ever permanently alter inherited traits?
Normally, environmental factors cannot change inherited traits since these are determined by genetic code. However, if environmental exposure causes genetic mutations in reproductive cells, these changes can sometimes be inherited by future generations.
