What is heredity?

• A. Observable traits
• B. Passing traits from parents to offspring
• C. Two-part naming
• D. Taming animals

Answer: (B)

Heredity is the passing of traits from parents to offspring through genes. Offspring inherit genetic information from both the sire and dam, which is why related animals often share characteristics and why selective breeding can improve future generations. Genes on chromosomes carry these traits, and while some traits follow simple patterns (dominant or recessive), many are influenced by multiple genes and the environment, blending into the animal’s observable appearance and performance.

Observable traits are what you can see (the phenotype), which can be affected by environment as well as genetics, so they aren’t the mechanism of transmission itself. Two-part naming relates to scientific classification, not inheritance. Taming animals concerns behavior and training, not how traits are passed down genetically.