What does "innate" refer to?

The term "innate" specifically refers to qualities or characteristics that are present from birth, rather than those that are developed or learned over time. It conveys the idea of something that is natural or inherent, lying within an individual or organism intrinsically from the very beginning of their existence.

In this context, "existing from birth" captures the essence of the word "innate," as it emphasizes that these traits or abilities are pre-existing and not the result of experience or environmental influence. Other terms such as "learned" or "acquired" imply development through exposure, training, or experience, which contrasts with the concept of being innate. Additionally, while "inherited through genetics" may seem closely related, it specifies a transmission process and doesn’t encompass all innate characteristics, some of which may not be strictly genetic in nature.