We are HFE. We are HERE. We are FAMILY. We are EXCEPTIONAL.
Key Terms for the Unit: • traits • inherited traits • acquired traits • recessive traits • dominant traits • acquired physical traits • instincts • learned behaviors
I can identify characteristics of instincts and learned behaviors. (Knowledge)
I can identify examples of instincts. (Knowledge)
I can identify examples of learned behaviors. (Knowledge)
I can differentiate between instincts and learning behaviors. (Reasoning)
I can ask questions about an organism’s instincts. (Reasoning)
I can ask questions about an organism’s learned behaviors. (Reasoning)
I can ask questions to compare and contrast instincts and learned behaviors. (Reasoning)
What things can we do without practicing?
Is the behavior the same in all organisms in a population?
Instinct, an inborn impulse or motivation to action typically performed in response to specific external stimuli. Today instinct is generally described as a stereotyped, apparently unlearned, genetically determined behavior pattern. Instinctive behaviors are present from birth, genetically determined, and will be the same in all organisms in the population. Sometimes referred to as "innate" behaviors.
Spider web building is an instinctive behavior, because baby spiders will use the same web design as the mother without any exposure to the mother's web. instinctive behaviors do not need to be learned by demonstration of the behavior by a parent.
Just about all human behaviors are learned. Learned behavior is behavior that occurs only after experience or practice and is usually taught by parents to their offspring. Learned behavior has an advantage over innate behavior: it is more flexible. Learned behavior can be changed if conditions change. With learned behaviors, an animal discovers through trial, error, and observation.
Some learned behaviors include baby crying, birds flying in groups, and bats sleeping upside down.
In order to determine if a behavior is an instinct or learned behavior, you need to determine if the behavior was one the animal was born with.
I can identify characteristics of inherited and acquired physical traits. (Knowledge)
I can identify examples of inherited traits. (Knowledge)
I can identify examples of acquired physical traits. (Knowledge)
I can differentiate between inherited traits and acquired physical traits. (Reasoning)
I can ask questions about inherited traits. (Reasoning)
I can ask questions about acquired physical traits. (Reasoning)
I can ask questions to compare and contrast inherited and acquired physical traits. (Reasoning)
Can inherited traits be changed?
Is the trait gained after birth?
Can inherited traits also become acquired?
An inherited trait is one that is genetically determined, present at birth, and remains unchanged over time. An inherited trait would be influenced by a genetic change. Inherited traits are passed from parent to offspring according to the rules of Mendelian genetics. Most traits are not strictly determined by genes, but rather are influenced by both genes and the environment.
Animals pass down traits that include camouflaged fur, thick protective scales and attractive feathers for finding a mate. Human genes work the same way. Some traits, such as hair, eye and skin color are polygenic traits — meaning that there are multiple genes that determine their color. Take a look at these common inherited traits that children receive from their parents.
hair color
eye color
skin color
handedness
bone structure
height
shoe size
long teeth
There are many more inherited traits that you get from your parents. Chances are, if you have one or more of the following traits, your parents and/or grandparents do as well.
tongue rolling - Parents who can roll their tongues often pass this trait down to their children.
colorblindness - Children (usually boys) with red/green colorblindness receive the gene from their mother.
widow's peak - If one of your parents has a widow's peak where their hair comes to a point on their forehead, you might have one too.
fraternal twins - A woman's ability to release two eggs at once, resulting in fraternal twins, is an inherited trait (which is why fraternal twins run in families).
hitchhiker's thumb - Does your thumb curve when you give a thumb's up? See which one of your parents' thumbs does the same thing.
attached earlobes - Are your earlobes attached or detached from the side of your head?
Were you trained to do that?
Which traits did you gain by choice?
Can acquired traits be passed from parents to children?
Are environmental factors linked to the condition?
A physical feature that is influenced by environmental factors or stimulus and not inherited to the next generation. These traits are gained by choice.
tattoo
piercings
scars
purple hair
red fingernails
sports skill
Important to note: hair color, skin color, eye color could be both inherited and acquired because a person can choose to change all of these!