noun
acquired characteristics
Biological term referring to traits acquired during an organism's lifetime, as opposed to inherited ones. Often used in discussions of Lamarckism.
獲得形質は遺伝しないというのが現代生物学の定説だ。
It is an established theory in modern biology that acquired characteristics are not inherited.
遺伝形質 refers to inherited traits, while 獲得形質 refers to traits acquired during an organism's lifetime.
Compound of 獲得 (kakutoku, 'acquisition') and 形質 (keishitsu, 'characteristics, traits'). A straightforward Sino-Japanese term used in biology.