Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors Vocabulary Words Organism A living thing Trait An internal or external characteristic or feature. Name some blue crab traits. Reproduction The act of making something new. Inherited Trait A characteristic that is passed from parent to offspring during reproduction. Learned Behavior Animal behavior that is developed from observation or instruction rather than being passed down by heredity. Behavioral Movements and Actions; How an Organism Behaves Offspring New Organisms That Have Come From Parents That Have Reproduced Heredity The passing of traits from parent to offspring during reproduction. Generation The average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their offspring.