Final answer:
Democritus hypothesized about change in objects, suggesting it came from the recombination of atomos with specific shapes, sizes, and masses. He thought features like color and taste resulted from atomos' arrangements, not inherent qualities. This idea, although not on heredity, conceptually links to later genetic theories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Democritus hypothesized about change and variances in objects by postulating that such changes occur when the many atomos that make up an object are reconnected or recombined in different ways. He suggested that there were different types of atomos with distinct shapes, sizes, and masses, and that these properties were the only factors distinguishing one type of atomos from another. Democritus extended his theory to other characteristics, like color and taste, stating that these did not reflect properties of the atomos themselves but were the result of how the atomos combined and interconnected.
Though Democritus did not specifically speak on heredity within the information provided, the Greek philosopher's thoughts on change and the nature of matter share a conceptual link to the principles of heredity and genetics discussed much later in history. Scientists such as Thomas Hunt Morgan provided experimental evidence that supported the chromosomal theory of inheritance, which connects modern genetic understanding back to the foundational theories of early thinkers like Democritus.