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Inherited vs. Acquired Traits — Reading Comprehension

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This comprehensive passage, aligned with NGSS standard MS-LS3-1, explores the fundamental differences between inherited and acquired traits for middle school science students. The text examines how inherited traits, such as eye color and blood type, are passed from parents to offspring through genetic information contained in DNA, while acquired traits, like scars and learned skills, result from experiences or environmental influences and are not inherited. Students will encounter real-world examples, scientific explanations, and clear distinctions between these two types of traits, along with a discussion of historic misconceptions such as Lamarck's error. Activities include a glossary, multiple-choice quiz, writing prompts, and two graphic organizers to deepen understanding. This resource supports auditory learning and is ideal for grades 6-8 classrooms looking to build foundational genetics knowledge.

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inherited-traits-1 — Inherited vs. Acquired Traits

Traits are the characteristics that make each living thing unique. Some traits, like the color of your eyes or the pattern on a tiger’s fur, are passed down from parents to their offspring. These are called inherited traits. Others, like a scar from a cut or the ability to ride a bicycle, develop during an organism's life. These are known as acquired traits. Understanding the difference between inherited and acquired traits helps scientists explain why organisms look and behave the way they do, and how species change over generations.

How Inherited Traits Are Passed Down

Inherited traits are transmitted from one generation to the next through genes. Genes are segments of DNA, the molecule that carries the instructions for building and operating living things. For example, your blood type, hair texture, and natural eye color all depend on the information stored in your DNA. Each parent contributes half of their genes to their offspring, so you inherit a unique combination. Some inherited traits, like genetic diseases, can be traced to specific changes in DNA. Scientists have discovered that humans share about 99.9% of their DNA, but small differences result in the wide variety of inherited traits we observe.

Acquired Traits: Developed During Life

Acquired traits are not passed down through genes. Instead, they develop as a result of experiences, environment, or learning. For example, if you learn to speak a new language, develop strong muscles from lifting weights, or get a scar from an injury, these are all acquired traits. No matter how skilled a bodybuilder becomes, their children will not inherit large muscles at birth; they will need to exercise to develop them. Similarly, if a dog’s tail is docked, its puppies will still be born with full-length tails. This is because acquired traits do not change the DNA in reproductive cells, so they are not inherited.

Why Acquired Traits Aren’t Inherited: The Role of DNA

In the early 1800s, a scientist named Lamarck mistakenly believed that acquired traits could be passed to offspring. However, modern research has shown that only changes in an organism’s DNA, specifically in the reproductive cells, can be inherited. DNA is like a set of instructions stored in every cell, and only inherited traits are written into this code. Acquired traits, such as learned behaviors or injuries, do not alter the DNA that is passed to the next generation. This fundamental principle explains why the offspring of a bodybuilder or a musician must develop their own skills and abilities.

Understanding the difference between inherited and acquired traits is crucial in genetics, medicine, and conservation. It helps researchers predict how diseases and beneficial traits are passed through populations, and why some changes in organisms must happen over many generations. This knowledge forms the basis for studying evolution, genetic engineering, and heredity.

Interesting Fact: Humans share about 98% of their DNA with chimpanzees, but even a 2% difference leads to huge changes in traits and abilities!

What are inherited traits?

Traits passed from parents to offspring through genesTraits learned after birthTraits caused only by environmentTraits that are never visible

Which of the following is an example of an acquired trait?

Natural eye colorBlood typeScars from an injuryHair texture

How are inherited traits transmitted to offspring?

Through learned behaviorsThrough genes in DNAThrough environmental changesThrough repeated practice

What does DNA do in living things?

Carries instructions for traitsProtects cells from injuryHelps learn new skillsMakes organisms identical

What is the main reason acquired traits are not inherited?

They are not recorded in DNA of reproductive cellsThey are only visible to scientistsThey change genes directlyThey are always temporary

What percentage of DNA do all humans share?