The term for the passing of traits from parents to offspring is heredity.

Quick Scoop

Heredity is the biological process where genetic information in the form of DNA is passed from parents to their offspring, making children resemble their parents. This process explains inherited features like eye color, hair type, and certain health risks that “run in families.”

In biology, heredity is also called inheritance , and the units that carry these traits are genes located on chromosomes. The scientific study of how heredity works is known as genetics , a field built on Gregor Mendel’s classic experiments with pea plants.

So, if a test or homework question asks: “What is the term for the passing of traits from parents to offspring?”, the correct one-word answer is: heredity.

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