Final answer:
Unilineal Descent (C) is the correct answer. It represents a system where an individual's lineage is traced through a single line of ancestry, specifically through either the male or female gender line. Patrilineal and matrilineal descents are subtypes of unilineal descent, tracing through fathers and mothers, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is C. Unilineal Descent. Unilineal descent traces an individual's kinship through a single gendered line, which can either be male or female. It establishes a family lineage and generational connection based on a single line of ancestry and is a fundamental organizational principle in many societies around the world.
Patrilineal descent is a form of unilineal descent where the lineage is traced through the father's line only. In these societies, males often carry the family surname and are considered permanent members of the family lineage. Conversely, matrilineal descent traces lineage through the female line, with both males and females inheriting their lineage from their mothers.
It's important to distinguish unilineal descent from other forms like ambilineal descent, where either the father’s or mother’s lineage may be chosen for kinship determination, and bilateral descent, where kinship is traced through both the mother's and father's lines.
Answer: C. Unlineal Descent