This document defines and provides examples of key genetic and biological terms including traits, characteristics, genetics, offspring, innate behaviors, learned behaviors, recessive traits, and atavism. It explores how traits can be inherited genetically from parents and ancestors or expressed naturally from birth, as well as behaviors animals are born with versus learn from parents. Examples of innate behaviors include breathing, sleeping and crying.

2.  A distinguishing feature or quality
 Characteristics can make you sometimes
have traits that you think you may not
have

3.  Derive (a quality, characteristic , or
predisposition) genetically from one’s
parents or ancestors.

4.  A characteristic that an organism can
pass on to it’s offspring through it’s
genes.

5.  Children or young of a person, animal, or
plant.

6.  Inherent
 Naturally present at birth (innate)

7.  behaviors animals are born knowing how to
do
 In other words, anything you know how to
do when you are born
 Examples: breathing, sleeping, crying, etc.

8.  Actions and reactions that an animal
learns itself usually from its parents

9.  Existing from birth, inborn

10.  Occur when one allele masks or
suppresses the expression of its partner

11.  A trait that reappears in the second
generation after disappearing in the first
generation when parents with different
traits are bred.

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