Trait Variation

Look at the boy and his father. How do they look the same? They both have two arms and two legs. They both have eyes and a nose. They look a lot alike! People can look like their parents. We get bigger when we grow up, and maybe our hair changes. We go through a life cycle as we grow. We grow to look like more like adults. What is the life cycle of animals? Do all animals look the same as their parents? 

Many animal parents and their young look similar. Babies are born with the same parts as their parents. Some babies and parents are even the same color. 

Sometimes, young animals have several features that do not resemble their parents. There can be variations, or differences, between parents and their children. Even babies that look like their parents are different somehow, even though they are the same animal. The baby might be a lot smaller and may not have all the parts the parent has. Babies may grow these parts as they get older.

Characteristics are called traits. Some characteristics, or traits, help animals move. Dolphins have flippers. Flippers help dolphins swim. Birds have wings. Wings help birds fly. Many land animals have legs. Legs help animals walk, run, and hop. Chickens are born with legs, feet, and a beak like their parents, but something looks a little different.