Final answer:
The inheritance of acquired characteristics is a concept proposed by Lamarck, but it is not supported by modern biology. Most traits are determined by an organism's genes, which are inherited from its parents. Traits acquired during an organism's lifetime are generally not passed on to its offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that traits an organism develops during its own lifetime can be passed on to offspring is known as the inheritance of acquired characteristics. This concept was proposed by Jean Baptiste Lamarck but is now widely rejected in modern biology. Most of an organism's traits are determined by its genes, which are inherited from its parents. Traits that an organism acquires during its lifetime through interactions with the environment are generally not passed on to its offspring.