Final answer:
Unilateral descent traces kinship through one parent only, either the father's or mother's side. This can be done through patrilineal, matrilineal, or ambilineal descent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unilateral descent is the tracing of kinship through one parent only, either the father's or the mother's side. There are three types of unilateral descent: patrilineal, which follows the father's line only; matrilineal, which follows the mother's side only; and ambilineal, which follows either the father's or the mother's side depending on the situation. For example, in patrilineal societies, only males carry on the family surname while females are seen as temporary members. In contrast, in matrilineal descent, both males and females trace their ancestry solely through female ancestors.