Source: Big and Little Dog 1, Wikimedia Commons

What type of animal is pictured here? They are the same type of animal but one is bigger than the other. Even though these two animals have different features, they still possess some common characteristics recognizable as dogs. Why is this so? The answer to this question is genetics! Genetics is the study of heredity, or the passage of genetic instructions from one generation to the next.

Characteristic or traits, such as the ones pictured below, are passed from parent to offspring.

Source: Inherited Traits, All about Animal DNA

Traits can be physical, such as the ones pictured above, or they can also be behavioral, such as innate behaviors. Innate behaviors are also called instincts. These behaviors occur naturally in all members of the species.

Watch this video to learn more about innate behaviors.