Final answer:
The passing of traits from Kate's mother to Kate is known as heredity, which is the transmission of genetic information from parents to their offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passing of traits from Kate's mother to Kate is known as heredity. This is the process by which parents pass their genetic information to their offspring. Heredity explains how children can inherit characteristics from each of their parents, such as eye color, hair color, and even behavioral tendencies like apathy. When we see traits that run in families, these traits are typically passed down through the DNA that children inherit equally from both parents.
It is important to note that not all traits are purely the result of hereditary factors; environmental influences can also play a significant role in an individual's development. However, in the context of genetic inheritance, traits like apathy, which are shared between Kate and her mother, are most directly attributable to heredity.