What is the process by which characteristics are transmitted from parents to offspring?

The process by which characteristics are transmitted from parents to offspring is known as inheritance. Inheritance refers to the genetic process through which traits and characteristics are passed down from one generation to the next via genes. These genes, made up of DNA, carry the information necessary for the development and functioning of an organism.

Inheritance is fundamental to the study of genetics because it explains how offspring can resemble their parents or exhibit variation through the combination of alleles. This can occur through different patterns, such as dominant and recessive traits, and is driven by mechanisms such as sexual reproduction, where genetic material from both parents combines to create a genetically unique individual.

In contrast, mutation refers to a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits but does not itself explain the transmission of these traits. Replication is the process by which DNA makes copies of itself, crucial for cell division, while transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA. While all these processes are related to genetics, they do not specifically describe the passing of characteristics from parents to offspring.