Learned and Inherited Traits

Did spiders go to school to learn how to spin a web?  Were they taught by a parent?  NO!  This skill is an instinct…which means every spider is born with this knowledge.  Did someone teach you how to cry when you were a baby?  Nope!  That is also an instinct.

Inherited Characteristics

  • An organism’s physical features are called characteristics. Inherited characteristics are determined before birth and cannot be permanently changed. Eye color, hair color, skin color, freckles, and dimples are inherited characteristics of humans.  
  • Features of an offspring that result from genes passed on by parents are called inherited characteristics.  Some behaviors are inborn. Behaviors of this type are called instincts. Organisms do not have to be taught how to do things that are instincts. Some examples of instincts are breathing, hibernating, and migrating. Instinct also includes reflexes, which are rapid, automatic responses to certain signals or events. Sneezing when your nose is tickled is an example of a reflex. Other examples of inherited behaviors include:
    • people and animals crying or howling when in pain
    • people and animals eating when hungry
    • fish knowing how to swim 
    • birds knowing how to build nests
  • An inherited trait is something that you have always had or is part of you because your DNA made you that way. For example, your hair color, eye color, and feet size are based on your genes.

Learned Trait

  • A learned trait is something that you can control. You can learn to speak a language, ride a bike or even how to play a sport.
  • Another commonly mistaken example is the language that you speak. Often kids assume that the language you speak is inherited when in reality it is the result of what your parents teach you. Anyone with a baby brother or sister will be able to see this clearly. Those without younger siblings may find this confusing.
  • Learned characteristic are features that result from experience and the influence of the environment. Favorite hobbies, dislikes of certain foods, and speaking a certain language are learned characteristics because they are not inherited. The clothing and hairstyle that people choose to wear are also learned characteristics.  
  • Learned behaviors are actions carried out by an animal or human based on experience. For example, eating apples because you like the taste would be a learned behavior that was based on prior experience eating apples. Speaking English is a learned behavior. While most humans are born with some ability to make sounds, people have to learn to speak English, or any other language. Other learned behaviors include:
    • skipping
    • reading
    • having good manners
    • having pink as a favorite color
    • wearing brightly colored clothes
    • riding a bike
  • Linked here is a great prezi based on “How to Train Your Dragon” which deals with learned and inherited traits.

Learned and Inherited Traits

  • Many times learned and inherited traits work together and can get a bit confusing. Consider for example a tremendous athlete. Having athletic ability can be genetic, which is why parents who are athletic are more likely to have athletic kids. However, becoming really good at soccer is a learned activity. Athleticism will help a person become good at soccer more quickly and easily, but learning to play soccer itself is a learned trait.