Variations of Traits in Organisms

What is a trait? Example: A unique trait of the giraffe is its long neck.

• A like or dislike of a plant or animal

• A quality or characteristic of something

• Swapping goods in order to get something

• A measure of intelligence

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Why are there differences in siblings if they have the same parents?

• Oldest siblings always get the same traits as their mothers.

• Most siblings look and act the same; there are few differences.

• Different genes and traits are inherited from the parents.

• It is entirely random, and no one knows what any child might look like.

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The gorillas in the picture look very similar, but there is a difference in their hair color. Why would the baby gorilla look slightly different than one of its parents?

• The adult gorilla is in the sun, and the baby is in the shade, so they look different.

• Gorillas never look like their mothers. They only look like their fathers.

• This is not the gorilla's baby; it is just watching it for a friend.

• The baby is a mix of the traits and characteristics of both parents.

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There are variations of inherited traits that exist in groups of similar organisms because they have different inherited information.

• True

• False

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Plants and animals do not have traits inherited from their parents.

• False

• True

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Why does the puppy in the photo below look so similar to both of its parents?

• The parent's traits have been passed to the puppy.

• The puppy does not look similar to the adult dogs.

• The puppy is a clone of the adult dogs.

• The adult dogs are not the puppy's parents; they are siblings.

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Why does the kitten in the photo below look different from its mother?

• Kittens never look like their mother, only their father.

• That cat is not its mother.

• The kitten is dirty, and you cannot tell its colors.

• It is a mix of both the mother and father's traits.

DJ and Johar are brothers, but they don't look alike! How can they be brothers but have variations in their appearance?

• Youngest siblings always get the same traits as their mothers.

• Male siblings always look like their father.

• Each child inherits different genes from their parents, in a 50:50 ratio, so they have a mix of traits.

• Children inherit about 75% of their genes from their mother and 25% from their fathers, so they have a mix of traits.

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What is an organism? Example: Some organisms are enormous, while others are tiny.

• A type of recreational vehicle

• A house or building

• An individual plant, animal, or living thing

• Parts of the body with functions to keep humans alive

Nevin's cats recently had kittens. The father is black and white while the mother has orange and white stripes. The kittens are a variation of black, white, orange, spots, and stripes. Why is there such a difference in all of the kitten's appearances?

• The kittens are a mix of the traits and characteristics of both parents.

• It is entirely random, and no one knows what any kitten might look like.

• The kittens are not the offspring of Nevin's cats.

• Kittens never look like their parents.

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