Explanation

Imprinting is a fascinating example of how both genetic predisposition and environmental factors interact to shape an animal's behavior.

Genetically, young animals are predisposed to form strong attachments during a critical period early in life.

However, the specific object they imprint on (usually their mother) is entirely determined by their environment during this sensitive window.

If a duckling is separated from its mother and exposed to a human shortly after hatching, it will imprint on the human and follow it around instead.

This demonstrates how a genetically programmed behavior (imprinting) is shaped by the specific environmental stimuli encountered during a critical developmental period.