Question

4.c - unit b: natural selection assessment
it is fairly well established that acquired characteristics (for example, building muscle mass)
○ cannot be inherited by genes in chromosomes
○ can be inherited in special cases in specific genes
○ are factors that developed thick fur in rocky mountain goats
○ have major roles in creating variation in adaptation and change

Explanation:

Acquired characteristics, like building muscle mass through exercise, are not encoded in an organism's DNA (genes on chromosomes). Inherited traits are determined by genes, while acquired traits result from an organism's interactions with the environment and cannot be passed on genetically. The other options are incorrect: acquired traits can't be inherited even in "special cases" (option 2 is wrong), factors for thick fur in goats are genetic/inherited (option 3 is about inherited/adaptive traits, not acquired), and acquired traits don't create variation via inheritance (option 4 is about genetic variation sources like mutations/genetic recombination, not acquired traits).

Answer:

cannot be inherited by genes in chromosomes