Heredity and Traits Comprehension Worksheets

(

)

Heredity and Traits Comprehension For Google Apps

This is an exercise to test your students comprehension on what they just read. They will read the passage about about heredity and traits and then answer the questions that follow. This will show you your students understanding of this science unit.

All living things are made up of cells. Every cell in all living things has
chromosomes. The chromosomes within the cells contain the genes. Those genes contain the instructions to determine which traits the offspring will have.

Many distinguishing characteristics or traits of the offspring of living things are inherited from their parents. Heredity is the term given for the passing of traits from parent to offspring. All living things have traits. In animals, leopards have spots, zebras have stripes, giraffes have long necks, fish have fins, insects have antennas. In plants, flowers have leaves, thorns, colors and shapes. In humans, people have hair texture, eye color, freckles and skin color. These are all examples of inherited traits. However, other traits like playing an instrument, doing gymnastics, or performing tricks, are all examples of acquired or learned traits. Acquired or learned traits do not get passed along to offspring.

Traits can also be influenced by our environment. Flamingoes are often pink which is a result of what they eat. Many Flamingoes are pink which is very similar to the color of the shrimp that they eat. Poison dart frogs are a very poisonous type of frog, it is thought that they get their poison from the insects they eat, scientists don’t think they inherit the poison.

1) How are traits determined that offspring will have?
2) What traits did you inherit from your parents?
3) Can you identify 3 animals and their traits?
4) Give 2 examples of an acquired or learned trait that you have?
5) Can you identify how the environment can influence traits?
Provide 2 examples.
6) Identify 2 animals and how their traits may help them adapt in
their environment.