Question

Tabulate two distinguishing features between acquired traits and inherited traits with one example of each.

Answer 1

Hint: There are characters which we get from our parents and some features we learn during our lifetime. We can enhance and upgrade our self-developed traits. But can not help the genetic traits. The short heighted child of short heightened parents is not the fault of the child. These are the genes which are passed down.

Complete answer: A trait is a characteristic or feature of an organism. It can either be genetically inherited from parents or it can develop in our lifetime due to the environment.

Acquired trait	Inherited trait
1. The traits which are developed in response to the environment are acquired traits.	1. A trait which is caused by changes in genes (DNA) is an inherited trait.
2. They can not be inherited or passed down to future generations.	2. They are genetic so are passed on to generations.
3. For example- cut the tail of a mouse. When a tail of a mouse is cut, the trait remains with the mouse; it does not get passed on to the next generation. It is developed due to some conditions in the environment.	3. For example- Red colour of beetles. The beatles have red and black colours. This colour dominance will select the gene to be passed on to the next generation hence the colour next progeny gets will be genetic.

Note: Acquired traits are the alterations occurring in the non-reproductive part of our genes, due to environmental stress. This does not help in the evolution as these characters will shade off once the organism dies. Exposure to sun causes darkening of the sun, this character is acquired when we stay prolonged in the sun so this will affect only the present organism.