Final answer:
Traits acquired during an organism's lifetime cannot be passed down to its offspring. Inherited characteristics are determined by genes passed down from parents, while offspring vary due to genetic variations.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to current scientific understanding, traits acquired during an organism's lifetime cannot be passed down to its offspring. Most characteristics of organisms are inherited through the passing down of genes from parent to offspring. Offspring vary in regard to their characteristics due to genetic variations and the combination of traits from both parents.
This concept was first proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, who theorized that acquired traits could be inherited. However, this hypothesis has largely been unsupported. It is now known that traits resulting from environmental influences or experiences during an individual's lifetime are not passed down to future generations.
For example, if a parent athlete builds up muscle strength through regular workouts, their offspring will not automatically inherit the same level of muscle strength. However, if there is a genetic basis for the ability to run fast, that genetic trait may be passed down to their child.