What are Traits?

Identical twins: same DNA, different environment

Identical twins have exactly the same DNA, but they are not exactly alike. Each twin has his or her own personality, talents, likes, and dislikes. There are even diseases that appear in one twin but not the other, including arthritis, diabetes, autism, schizophrenia, cancer, and many others. The differences between identical twins don't come from DNA—they all come from external factors.

Scientists often study twins to understand how genes and the environment work together to affect traits. They compare traits in identical twins, who have identical DNA, and fraternal twins, who share half their DNA, just like any siblings. If a characteristic appears more frequently in identical twin pairs than in fraternal twin pairs, then it has an inherited component.

The differences between identical twins don't come from DNA—they all come from external factors.


APA format:

Genetic Science Learning Center. (2016, March 1) What are Traits?. Retrieved March 24, 2024, from https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/traits/

CSE format:

What are Traits? [Internet]. Salt Lake City (UT): Genetic Science Learning Center; 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 24] Available from https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/traits/

Chicago format:

Genetic Science Learning Center. "What are Traits?." Learn.Genetics. March 1, 2016. Accessed March 24, 2024. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/traits/.