Name: ___________________________________
Mrs. Champion
Acquired & Inherited Traits Activity
Date: _____________
Life Science
Block: _____________
Directions The first column is a list of some common human traits that are under genetic control. Read the
trait variations in the other two columns and circle the form of trait that you have.
Human Trait
Dominant Variation
Recessive Variation
hands clasped together
left thumb over right
right thumb over left
wave in hair
curly
straight
hairline at forehead
"widow's peak"
straight hairline
dimples
yes
no
ear lobes
free
attached
tongue
can be rolled
can't be rolled
freckles
yes
no
Analysis
1. How many of the dominant traits listed do you have?
2. How many of the recessive traits listed do you have?
3. Follow directions to complete the class data table:
Traits and Variations (Total number of students in the class = ________)
Number of
Number of
% of Students with
% of Students with
Students with
students with
Human Trait
Dominant
Recessive Variation
Dominant
Recessive Variation
Variation of Trait
of Trait
Variation of Trait
of Trait
hands clasped
together
wave in hair
hairline at forehead
dimples
ear lobes
tongue
freckles
4. Which variations of the traits are most common in your class?
5. Are the dominant traits in a population always the most common?
6. Think about each of the human traits in the following chart and check the column which best describes
the way that trait is controlled.
Human Trait
Genetic Control
Environmental
Control
Both
muscle size
height
eye color
favorite type of music
artistic talent
body weight
freckles
favorite food
athletic ability
7. Choose any one of the traits which you think is controlled by both genetics and the person’s
environment and explain how both factors can affect the trait.
8. Lucia grew up in Argentina and speaks fluent Spanish. Is this an example of an inherited trait or is the
trait influenced by the environment? Explain.