Transcript Inherited and Learned Behaviors

Some things you just can’t
change….
Likenesses between Parents and
Offspring (that’s you)
• Do you have the same color eyes as your mother or
your father?
• Do you have the same hair color as either parent?
• Offspring (children) - are often like their parents in
many ways.
• Ex: a seed from a yellow rose plant will grow into
another yellow rose plant. Both plants (parents and
offspring) will have the same type of leaves.
• This also is true for humans. If your parents both have
earlobes that are attached to their head, chances are,
you will too!
• Inherited characteristics are passed from parents
to their offspring (children). These cannot be
changed.
• Physical Characteristics such as earlobes, height,
eye color are examples of inherited characteristics.
• The genetic “instructions” are given to the offspring
by the parents.
• Some people can roll the edges of their tongue up and
others can’t.
• Some people can move their fingers in two groups to
make a “Vulcan” sign like Mr. Spoc on Star Trek.
• Some people have a “widows” peak hairline while
others have a straight hairline.
• Inherited traits include instinctive behaviors, which
means animals are born with them. Baby Turtle returns to sea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt299DvXFJ
• Here are a few examples:
• Birds having the desire to fly south for winter.
• A baby turtle hatching from its shell and heading
towards sea.
• Some animals hibernate in the winter in order to
survive.
• Not all likenesses
between parents and
offspring are
inherited.
• Some likenesses are
learned.
• Learned behaviors
are behaviors that an
animal, especially
humans, that develop
in response to their
environment.
• Worker ants can learn a
series of landmarks along a
trail. This helps them return to
their colony.
• You have learned table
manners. Your parents have
taught you to use a knife and
a fork correctly when eating.
• Trainers can teach seals to
balance a ball on their nose,
or teach a dog fetch a stick.
• Your super awesome
teachers have also taught you
how to read, multiply, divide,
and even have taught you
about Learned and Inherited
Characteristics.
Cactus spines
Speaking a
Language
Avoiding bad-tasting
prey
Color of a
bird’s feathers
Biting your finger nails
Tying your
shoelaces
Birds building a
nest
Interactive sites
• http://www.amnh.org/ology/?channel=gene
tics&c#features/naturewalk?TB_iframe=tru
e&height=400&width=600
• http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begi
n/traits/
NOTE TIME!!!
• An inherited trait is something passed
down by a plant or animal from its parents.
• Many inherited traits are physical
characteristics. These traits include eye
color and hair color, or the shape of a
leaf.
• Instinctive Behaviors: Some inherited
traits are instinctive behaviors– such as
birds flying south in the winter.
• Inherited traits cannot be changed.
NOTE TIME CONTINUED!!!
Learned Behavior is something an animal
learns by interacting with its environment.
• Learned behavior is not inherited.
• Learned behavior can be changed.
• A Learned behavior occurs when an animal
has an experience it seeks to avoid or repeat.
• For example: A coyote learns to avoid cacti.
• Learned behaviors can be taught to humans.
• For example: we learn good table manners.