Which term describes the study of genes and heredity?

The term that specifically describes the study of genes and heredity is genetics. Genetics is a branch of biology that focuses on understanding how traits and characteristics are inherited from one generation to the next through genes. This field encompasses various concepts such as DNA structure, gene expression, mutations, and inheritance patterns.

In contrast, biology is a broader field that encompasses all living organisms and their interactions with the environment, including genetics but also including ecology, physiology, and more. Evolution refers to the process by which species change over time through natural selection and genetic variation, while ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. These terms, while related to the overarching theme of biological science, do not specifically focus on the mechanisms of heredity and the genetic basis of traits as genetics does.