An acquired trait is a trait (or characteristic) of an organism that is “not inherited” but instead arises in reaction to the environment. For instance, all of a group of mice’s progeny will have tails if they are naturally bred. Now, if these mice’s tails are surgically removed after each generation, tail-less mice won’t be born. This is true since cutting off one’s tail is a learned trait.
An inherited phenotype is a property (or characteristic) of an organism that results from a change in its genes (or DNA). Because they have caused changes in the organism’s genes (or DNA), inherited qualities can be passed on to the organism’s offspring. Taking human skin colour as an example.