Question

Why are traits acquired during the lifetime of an individual not inherited?

Answer 1

Acquired Traits:

1. The personality that an individual develops as a result of external influences is known as an acquired trait.
2. These characteristics cannot be handed on to subsequent generations since they are not encoded in a living organism's DNA.

Inherited Traits:

1. These are the characteristics that children inherit from their parents. Some examples of hereditary features in humans include hair, complexion, eye color, body type, height, and susceptibility to particular diseases.
2. An individual's genes determine their inherited characteristics.

Explanation:

1. Since changes do not reflect in the DNA of the germ cells, acquired qualities are not passed down from generation to generation.
2. The genetic make-up of an individual is unaffected by acquired qualities.
3. A cricket player, for instance, cannot pass on his talents to his offspring since the features he has acquired over his life are only found in non-reproductive cells.
4. Any changes in the germ cells, however, have the potential to cause the succeeding generation to pick up the new features