--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Traits acquired during one's lifetime…" description: "\"Traits acquired during one's lifetime - muscles built up in the gym, for example - cannot be passed on to the next generation. Now with technology, as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/nick-bostrom-10771_able_traits-acquired-during-one-s-lifetime-mu_1685544.png" --- # Traits acquired during one's lifetime - muscles built up… ![“Traits acquired during one's lifetime - muscles built up in the gym, for example - cannot be passed on to the next generation. Now with technology, as it happens, we might indeed be able to transfer some of our acquired traits on to our selected offspring by genetic engineering.” quote by Nick Bostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/nick-bostrom-10771_able_traits-acquired-during-one-s-lifetime-mu_1685544.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/nick-bostrom-10771_able_traits-acquired-during-one-s-lifetime-mu_1685544.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/nick-bostrom-10771_able_traits-acquired-during-one-s-lifetime-mu_1685544.png) > “Traits acquired during one's lifetime - muscles built up in the gym, for example - cannot be passed on to the next generation. Now with technology, as it happens, we might indeed be able to transfer some of our acquired traits on to our selected offspring by genetic engineering.” [Nick Bostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bostrom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acquired physical traits cannot be inherited, but future genetic engineering may allow passing them to offspring. **In simple terms:** Genetic tech could let us give kids our learned abilities. Key Takeaway Consider ethical implications of trait transfer. Themes ethics genetics future inheritance Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - parenting decisions - policy making - medical research - education planning Key Concepts bioethics transhumanism evolutionary biology Questions to Reflect On - Should we allow parents to choose traits for children? - What safeguards are needed for genetic enhancement? A Different Perspective Risks include unforeseen health effects and social inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Acquired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired/) [Acquired Traits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired-traits-1000243/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannot/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [For example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/for-example/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Genetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetic/) [Genetic engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetic-engineering/) [Gym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gym/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Indeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indeed/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Muscles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscles/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Offspring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offspring/) [Offspring Genetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offspring-genetic-1000244/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Passed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passed/) [Selected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selected/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Traits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traits/) [Traits Acquired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traits-acquired-1000245/) [Transfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transfer/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Twombly, frankly, was an acquired taste. 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