Difference Between Acquired and Inherited Traits

Question 1:

What Are Sex Chromosomes?

Answers:

The chromosomes which are responsible for the determination of the sex of a person are called sex chromosomes.
In humans, X and Y are sex chromosomes.
The combination of XX chromosomes leads to a female child, whereas XY chromosomes lead to a male child.

Question 2:

How Are Genetic Disorders Transferred in a Family for Generations?

Answers:

Genetic disorders are transferred along with the passage of genes from one generation to another.
It is not necessary that every member of the future generation would suffer from the same disease.
In some cases, the disease stays hidden due to different combinations of genes.
It may again express itself in the future generation when the combination or pairing of genes changes.

Question 3:

People Living in the Mountains Have High Levels of Haemoglobin in Their Blood. Why? Do You Think It Is a Genetic Trait?People Living in the Mountains Have High Levels of Haemoglobin in Their Blood. Why? Do You Think It Is a Genetic Trait?

Answers:

Haemoglobin plays a vital role in the transfer of oxygen in our bodies.
As we go to height or ascend on mountains, the air becomes thinner, which leads to a fall in oxygen level in the air.
The body compensates for the same by building a large number of red blood cells so that they can work to transport more amount of oxygen.
The rise in red blood cells leads to an increase in haemoglobin.
It is a change which occurs due to external factors. Hence, it is an acquired trait.

Question 4:

How the Combination of Genes Plays a Role in the Expression of Dominant and Recessive Traits?

Answers:

Genes occur in pairs.
Out of the pair, one gene represents a dominant trait and the other a recessive trait.
The expression of traits depends on their combination. There are the following possibilities—

Possible combination	Trait
One gene of dominant trait, and the other of a recessive trait	Dominant
Both the genes of a dominant trait	Dominant
Both the genes of recessive traits	Recessive

Question 5:

Why Do Acquired Traits Not Pass From One Generation to Another?

Answers:

Acquired traits do not alter the genetic make-up of an individual.
For example, the building of muscles is because of exercise, not because of any genetic alteration. Similarly, the piercing of ears has nothing to do with genes.
Hence, acquired traits do not pass from one generation to another.