Question

Are all traits adaptive?

Answer 1

Traits:

1. A trait is a specific characteristic of an individual.
2. Genes, environmental conditions, or both can determine them.
3. They can be quantitative or qualitative.
4. Examples of quantitative traits- height, blood pressure, etc.
5. Examples of qualitative traits- eye colour, animal coat colour, etc.
6. Traits can be acquired or inherited.

Acquired traits:

1. Characteristics that an individual acquires in one's lifetime.
2. It may be due to his activities or external influence and cannot be genetically passed on to the next generation.
3. Example- ability to cook, dance, etc.

Inherited traits:

1. Characteristics that are genetically acquired from the parents.
2. Example- hairline shape, tongue rolling, etc.

Adaptive traits:

1. Natural selection plays a major role in the evolution of adaptive traits.
2. These traits can be behavioural as well as physical.
3. Such traits increase the survival and reproductive capacity of an organism.
4. However, all traits are not adaptive. Some heritable traits may come from random mutations and might not be adaptive.