acquired characteristic
LowFormal/Academic/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A physical or behavioural trait that an organism develops during its lifetime, not inherited through genes.
A feature gained through experience, environment, or training, central to the historical biological concept of Lamarckism (the inheritance of acquired characteristics). In modern non-scientific contexts, it can describe learned skills or attributes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a term of historical biology. In modern evolutionary biology, it is a discredited concept, though it survives in discussions of the history of science. It can be confused with 'adaptation' or 'learned behaviour'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or use. Spelling adheres to local conventions (e.g., behaviour/behavior).
Connotations
Equally technical and academic in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general use, confined to specific biological/historical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[an/the] acquired characteristic [of + NOUN][possessive] acquired characteristicto consider/regard something as an acquired characteristicVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used idiomatically]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history of science, biology, and philosophy of science to discuss Lamarckism.
Everyday
Extremely rare. If used, may be a metaphorical extension for a learned skill (e.g., 'Punctuality is an acquired characteristic in this job').
Technical
Precise term for a phenotype altered by the environment during an organism's life, not transmitted to offspring in modern synthesis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The theory proposed that organisms acquired characteristics during their lifetime.
- He studied how species might have acquired these characteristics.
American English
- Lamarck argued that giraffes acquired characteristics like long necks through stretching.
- The experiment aimed to see if mice acquired characteristics from their environment.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form for the noun phrase]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form for the noun phrase]
adjective
British English
- The acquired characteristic hypothesis was debated for centuries.
- They discussed the implications of acquired characteristic inheritance.
American English
- Lamarck's acquired characteristic theory was a foundational, if incorrect, idea.
- The textbook outlined the acquired characteristic concept clearly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too complex for A2. Use simpler phrase: 'A learned skill is not in your genes.']
- Muscles from exercise are an acquired characteristic; they are not passed to children.
- Lamarck had a famous idea about acquired characteristics.
- The historical theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics was later disproven by genetics.
- Calling a skill an 'acquired characteristic' highlights that it was learned, not innate.
- Weismann's germ plasm theory directly challenged the notion that acquired characteristics could be heritable.
- In the philosophy of biology, the debate around acquired characteristics resurfaced with discussions on epigenetics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ACQUIRED = bought/gained in a shop (life). CHARACTERISTIC = feature. It's a feature you 'buy' with experience, not one you're born with.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY IS A POSSESSION (something you acquire).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'приобретённая черта' in a strict biological context; the established historical term is 'приобретённый признак'. Avoid confusing with 'воспитанная черта' (upbringing-related trait).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean a genetic adaptation. Confusing it with 'acquired trait' in casual language (which is acceptable but less precise). Capitalising it unnecessarily.
Practice
Quiz
In modern biology, acquired characteristics are generally considered to be:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An adaptation is a heritable genetic trait shaped by natural selection. An acquired characteristic is non-heritable and develops during an organism's lifetime.
According to modern genetics (the Modern Synthesis), no. The historical theory of Lamarckism proposed they could be, but this has been disproven for classical traits. Some epigenetic changes blur this line slightly but do not validate Lamarckism in its original form.
A bodybuilder's large muscles, the knowledge of a language, or a scar. These are gained during life and, crucially, are not encoded in the DNA passed to offspring.
It is used historically to discuss the development of evolutionary thought and to contrast Lamarckian ideas with Darwinian natural selection and Mendelian genetics.