What is the process by which characteristics are passed from parent to child?

The process by which characteristics are passed from parent to child is known as inheritance. Inherited traits are those that are genetically passed down through generations. This process is fundamentally based on the transmission of DNA, which carries the genetic information from parents to offspring. When organisms reproduce, they transfer their genetic material to their descendants, resulting in offspring that possess a mix of traits from both parents.

Every organism inherits specific physical and behavioral characteristics from their parent(s) due to this biological process. This includes traits such as eye color, hair type, and even certain tendencies in behavior. The concept of inheritance is central to genetics and helps explain the diversity within species as well as the similarities among closely related organisms.

Other processes mentioned, such as adaptation, reproduction, and acquisition of traits, do not correctly describe the direct genetic transmission between parental organisms and their offspring. Adaptation refers to the evolutionary processes that enable species to better fit their environments over generations, while reproduction is the broader process of producing offspring, not specifically detailing the passing of characteristics. Acquired traits, on the other hand, are not genetically transmitted; they are developed over the lifetime of an organism and cannot be passed down to the next generation. Thus, inheritance is the precise term that encapsulates the transfer