Final answer:
The term for the passing of traits from parents to offspring is heredity, which is a fundamental concept in the field of genetics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passing on of traits from parents to offspring is called heredity. This biological process ensures that genetic information is handed down from one generation to the next. In the field of genetics, which is the study of heredity, scientists have uncovered how various traits are inherited, going back to the foundational work of Gregor Mendel. Mendel's theories on the chromosomal basis of inheritance describe how genes are passed from parents to their children, shaping the characteristics that make up an individual's genetic makeup.
Heredity, the transmission of traits from parents to offspring, is a fundamental biological process ensuring the continuity of genetic information across generations. This intricate mechanism of inheritance is the focal point of genetics, the scientific discipline dedicated to unraveling the principles governing heredity. Gregor Mendel, often hailed as the father of modern genetics, laid the groundwork for understanding how traits are inherited. His pioneering work, which began with the study of pea plants, led to the formulation of Mendel's laws, elucidating the chromosomal basis of inheritance. Mendel's theories explicate the passage of genes from parents to offspring, delineating the mechanisms underlying the manifestation of specific characteristics within an individual's genetic makeup. The legacy of Mendel's contributions endures in the ongoing exploration of genetic principles, providing a foundational understanding of heredity in the broader context of biological inheritance.