The scientific basis for human inheritance patterns is described by genetics, particularly through the principles of Gregor Mendel, who established foundational concepts of inheritance with his work on pea plants. Mendel's laws, including the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment, explain how traits are passed from parents to offspring through alleles. Modern genetics expands this understanding through studies of DNA, genes, and chromosomes, making it possible to analyze complex inheritance patterns and genetic diseases.