Which term means the transmission of genetic traits from parents to offspring?

• A. Dominant allele
• B. Heredity
• C. Biodiversity
• D. Pioneer species

Answer: (B)

Heredity is the transmission of genetic traits from parents to offspring. It describes how genetic information stored in DNA is passed down through reproductive cells, so offspring inherit characteristics from their parents and show them in predictable patterns, though not necessarily identical due to variation and recombination. A dominant allele is a specific form of a gene that can determine phenotype when present, but it refers to how a trait is expressed rather than the overall process of passing genes. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a system, and a pioneer species is one that first colonizes a new or disturbed area. Thus, heredity best fits the description of passing genetic traits from one generation to the next.