Final answer:
Heredity is the process of passing on physical characteristics from parents to offspring. It is central to the science of genetics, where genes on chromosomes determine organisms' traits. Gregor Mendel's work laid the foundation for understanding genetic inheritance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heredity refers to the passing on of physical characteristics from parents to their offspring. This biological process is a key concept in the field of genetics, which is the study of how these traits are transmitted. The principles of genetics were laid out by Gregor Mendel through his experiments with pea plants, demonstrating that characteristics are controlled by genes located on chromosomes.
Each organism has a specific combination of inherited genes that determine its unique traits. These genes exist at specific locations, called loci, on the chromosomes, and different versions of a gene, known as alleles, contribute to the variation seen in the characteristics of organisms. For example, the purple-flower allele (B) and the white-flower allele (b) in pea plants are different alleles that occur at the same locus but lead to different flower colors.
In summary, heredity is the mechanism by which parents transfer genes to their offspring, resulting in the diverse physical characteristics observed within a species. The study of these genetic inheritances is crucial for understanding how traits are passed down through generations.