Name:_________________________________
Date:_____________________________
S5L2. Students will recognize that offspring can resemble parents in inherited
traits and learned behaviors.
a. Compare and contrast the characteristics of learned behaviors and of
inherited traits.
b. Discuss what a gene is and the role genes play in the transfer of traits.
Genetics – Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors Notes
The study of GENETICS

____________________________ is the branch of science dealing with how
____________________
__________________________ are _____________________.

Built into the word genetics is a very important word: _______________________

A ______________ is a sequence of DNA bases telling the proteins in a _____________
which order they are to be built (made).

A single gene may be made up of hundreds of _______________ of DNA bases.
________ is an acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid and is genetic material made from
lots and lots of gene pairs.
IN YOUR OWN WORDS:
Why is DNA important?
So… Where are genes found?

We find genes inside of __________________________________.

Chromosomes contain ___________ tightly packed in proteins and are found inside a
cell’s _____________________.
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Inside of a C_ _ _ _ we find the N _ _ _ _ _ _ and inside of the nucleus we find
C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ where D _ _ (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is found.
Biological Characteristics – Traits

Characteristics in science are often referred to as, or called, ________________________.

A trait is a noticeable feature or ________________ of a person. Everyone of us has a
unique set/combination of traits that make us…..us!

Our ________________ are passed down from, or come from, our ___________________.

In science, we call the passing of traits from parents to ________________, the study of
_______________________________.

When we are talking about humans, ___________________ means a person’s child or
children.
Inherited Traits

_______________________ traits are characteristics you get from your parents. The
characteristics you inherit are decided by your unique ___________ from your parents.

List at least 3 examples of inherited traits:
___________________________, ______________________________, _____________________________
Learned Behaviors – Acquired Traits

Acquired traits is just the “fancy” term for learned __________________________ or
behaviors we LEARN how to do.

_____________________ behaviors do NOT come from your DNA. They are behaviors you
are taught or learned from ____________________________.

List at least 3 examples of learned behaviors (acquired traits):
___________________________, ______________________________, _____________________________
Sort the following into either Inherited Traits or Learned Behaviors:
Blood Type
Freckles
Playing the guitar
Learned Behavior
Language
Hair Color
Accent
Eye Color
Running
Inherited Trait