Final answer:
Two common misconceptions about highly heritable traits are that they are solely determined by genetics and cannot be influenced by the environment. Both ideas are wrong because environmental factors also affect these traits, and most are polygenic, involving multiple genes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering a trait that is highly heritable, two common errors people might make include assuming that:
- The trait is determined solely by genetics, ignoring the influence of environmental factors.
- The trait cannot be changed or influenced by the environment due to its genetic nature.
These misconceptions are incorrect because, even though a trait is heritable, environmental factors can still play a significant role in its expression. For instance, height and weight are influenced by nutrition and lifestyle, despite having a strong genetic component. Additionally, it's key to recognize that most human traits are polygenic, which means they are controlled by more than one gene, adding to the complexity of their inheritance and expression. These traits often show a wide range of variability and can frequently be shaped or modified by environmental factors.