Name ______________________________________
Period _______
Standard 4
Students will understand that offspring inherit traits that make them more or less suitable to survive in
the environment. Objective 1: Compare how sexual and asexual reproduction passes genetic information
from parent to offspring.
a. Distinguish between inherited and acquired traits.

Inherited traits are traits that you get genetically from your _____________________________ or
"inherit". Examples include: _____________________________________________________________

Acquired traits are traits that you _____________________________. These do NOT come from your
parents. Examples include: ______________________________________________________________
b. Contrast the exchange of genetic information in sexual and asexual reproduction (e.g., number of parents,
variation of genetic material).
Reproduction
# of Parents
Genes compared to parents
Advantages
Disadvantages
Sexual
Asexual
c. Cite examples of organisms that reproduce sexually and those that reproduce asexually.
Reproduction
Examples
Sexual
Asexual
d. Compare inherited structural traits of offspring and their parents.

Offspring of asexual reproduction will have _________________________________________________
as parent.

Offspring of sexual reproduction will have __________________________________________________
as parents, but will be a _____________________________ of both parents.

Examples: ___________________________________________________________________________
Objective 2: Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
a. Predict why certain traits (e.g., structure of teeth, body structure, coloration) are more likely to offer an
_____________________________ for survival of an organism.

Bird beaks, Structure of teeth, Body structure: how do these traits help organisms survive? __________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Coloration of moths in industrial areas vs. non-polluted area

Know that traits can be _____________________________ or _____________________________
b. Cite examples of traits that provide an advantage for survival in one environment but not other
environments.

Birds: _______________________________________________________________________________

North Pole: __________________________________________________________________________

Colorful appearances: __________________________________________________________________

Water: ______________________________________________________________________________

Giraffes:_____________________________________________________________________________

Whales: _____________________________________________________________________________

Bees: _______________________________________________________________________________

Fur: ________________________________________________________________________________

If plants or animals cannot _____________________________, they may move to another location, the
_____________________________ may change over time genetically, or it may eventually become
_____________________________.
c. Cite examples of changes in genetic traits due to natural and manmade influences

What is mimicry? _____________________________________________________________________

What is camouflage?___________________________________________________________________

Write examples of changes that are due to natural or manmade influences.
Causes of changes
in genetic traits
Examples
Natural
influences
Manmade
influences
d. Relate the structure of organs to an organism’s ability to survive in a specific environment.
Organism’s Structure
Environment
How it helps an organism survive
Additional notes
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