A characteristic or feature of an organism gained through environmental influences or lifestyle changes after conception, not encoded in its DNA, is termed an acquired characteristic. Muscle development resulting from weightlifting is one such instance. The change is not passed down genetically to subsequent generations through inheritance. This contrasts with inherited characteristics, which are genetically determined and transmitted from parents to offspring.
Understanding how organisms adapt to their surroundings is vital. Acquired characteristics demonstrate phenotypic plasticity, allowing individuals to respond to varying environmental pressures. Historically, the now-discredited theory of Lamarckism proposed that organisms could pass on these traits to their progeny. Modern science, particularly genetics and evolutionary biology, refutes this mechanism of inheritance, emphasizing the role of genetic mutations and natural selection in driving evolutionary change.