The term used to describe the inheritance of traits is genetics. It encompasses the study of how characters are passed down from parents to offspring through genes, which are segments of DNA. Genetics explains variations in traits caused by different alleles and environmental factors, playing a crucial role in understanding heredity. It encompasses various concepts, including dominant and recessive traits, mutations, and genetic linkage. The field of genetics is integral to many biological disciplines, including evolution, molecular biology, and medicine, thereby significantly impacting our understanding of living organisms.