Which of the following behaviors is not an inherited behavior

Which of the following behaviors is not an inherited behavior?

The correct answer and explanation is:

Correct Answer: A. Humans eating with utensils

Explanation:

Inherited behaviors, also known as instinctual behaviors, are traits passed down from parents to offspring through genetic coding. These behaviors do not need to be taught or learned; they occur naturally in an organism as part of its biological makeup.

• Option A: Humans eating with utensils – This is a learned behavior rather than an inherited one. While the act of eating itself is instinctual, using utensils is a cultural and social practice that must be taught. People grow up observing their surroundings and learn table manners from their caregivers or society. If a child were raised in an environment without utensils, they would not naturally use them.
• Option B: A mouse burrowing underground to nest – This is an inherited behavior. Mice instinctively know to dig and create nests in secure locations to protect themselves and their offspring from predators and environmental conditions.
• Option C: A great white shark swimming in the ocean – Swimming is an instinctual behavior for sharks. They are born knowing how to swim and navigate their environment without being taught. Their body structure and instincts allow them to move efficiently in water.
• Option D: Canada geese migrating in cold weather – Migration is an instinctual behavior driven by environmental cues and genetic programming. Geese automatically migrate in response to seasonal changes without being explicitly taught the routes.

In contrast to the other behaviors listed, eating with utensils is a learned practice rather than an instinctual one, making it the correct answer.

Now, here is an image representing a contrast between learned and inherited behaviors: a human eating with utensils alongside animals engaging in instinctual behaviors like burrowing and migrating.