Final answer:
The two major forms of unilineal descent are patrilineal descent, which follows the father's line, and matrilineal descent, which follows the mother's line, both forming how kinship and family ties are recognized in different societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two major forms of unilineal descent are patrilineal descent and matrilineal descent. Patrilineal descent traces a person's kinship through the male line, meaning the individual is linked to family and ancestors solely through men in the family. For example, within patrilineal societies like those in rural China and India, the family surname is passed down through male members, emphasizing the male's permanent family membership. Conversely, matrilineal descent traces kinship through the female line, where lineage and family connections are established through the women in the family. Such systems often confer certain rights and inheritance through the mother's lineage. Both of these descent systems show how different cultures understand and organize family relations and kinship ties.