Question

The transmission of traits from parents to offspring is called __________ .
A. Characteristic
B. Heredity
C. Donation
D. Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: Transmission of traits is a process wherein the characteristics of the parents are transferred into their offspring. This happens during sexual reproduction when the male and the female gametes fuse.

Complete answer:The male and female gametes carry genes which contain information about the characteristics of traits of any individual. During sexual reproduction, when the male and the female gametes fuse resulting in fertilization, then the zygote is produced. The zygote later develops into a new individual. This zygote carries the information from both the parents as it is formed by the fusion of their gametes. Therefore, the traits of the parents are passed onto their offspring. This process constitutes the transmission of the traits.
Characteristic: It is defined as the set of features that an organism shows or it possesses. It can also be called as traits. The characteristics of all the people vary due to the different genetic compositions.
Heredity: It is defined as the process of the transfer of the genes or characteristics from parents to offspring. It is also known as inheritance. Due to this reason, the progeny resembles the parents closely but is not identical to them.
Donation: It is defined as the process wherein the gametes are donated to treat infertility or to deliberately procure the creation of a progeny with desirable features.
Thus, based on the above information we can conclude that the transmission of traits from parents to offspring is called heredity.
Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note:The progeny never resembles one of its parents or both the parents completely. This is because of variations. The variation is the degree by which the progeny differs from its parents. It occurs due to the fusion of the gametes and the formation of the zygote.