Title: Heredity | Encyclopedia.com
Headings: 
Heredity
HEREDITY
CONCEPT
HOW IT WORKS
Heredity and Genetics
GENES.
MUTATION AND DNA.
THE DISCOVERY OF CHROMOSOMES.
DNA MAKES ITS APPEARANCE.
Autosomes and Sex Chromosomes
Alleles
DOMINANT AND RECESSIVE ALLELES.
LEARNING FROM HEREDITARY LAW.
REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS
Population Genetics
Genetic Disorders
RECESSIVE GENE DISORDERS.
SEX-LINKED GENETIC DISORDERS.
MULTIFACTORIAL GENETIC DISORDERS.
Breeding within the Family
WHERE TO LEARN MORE
KEY TERMS
ALLELE:
AUTOSOMES:
CHROMOSOME:
DNA:
DOMINANT:
GENE:
GENE POOL:
GENETIC DISORDER:
GENETIC DOMINANCE:
GENOTYPE:
GERM CELL:
HEREDITY:
HETEROZYGOUS:
HOMOZYGOUS:
LOCUS:
MUTATION:
NUCLEUS:
PHENOTYPE:
RECESSIVE:
SEX CHROMOSOMES:
SYNTHESIZE:
Heredity
Heredity
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Heredity
Heredity
Further Reading
Heredity
204. Heredity
abiogenesis
anencephaly
biotypology
blastogenesis
cytoplasm
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
DNA
dysgenesis
geneagenesis
genetics
hereditist
homogenesis
Mendelism
pangenesis
perigenesis
prepotency
radiogenetics
recombinant DNA
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
RNA
telegony
Weismannism
xenogenesis
xenogeny

Content: Heredity | Encyclopedia.com
Science and Technology
Biology and Genetics
Genetics and Genetic Engineering
heredity
Heredity
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views 1,484,962 updated May 29 2018
HEREDITY
CONCEPT
Heredity is the transmission of genetic characteristics from ancestor to descendant through the genes. As a subject, it is tied closely to genetics, the area of biological study concerned with hereditary traits. The study of heritable traits helps scientists discern which are dominant and therefore are likely to be passed on from one parent to the next generation. On the other hand, a recessive trait will be passed on only if both parents possess it. Among the possible heritable traits are genetic disorders, but study in this area is ongoing, and may yield many surprises. HOW IT WORKS
Heredity and Genetics
As discussed at the beginning of the essay on genetics, the subjects of genetics and heredity are inseparable from each other, but there are so many details that it is extremely difficult to wrap one's mind around the entire concept. It is advisable, then, to break up the overall topic into more digestible bits. One way to do this is to study the biochemical foundations of genetics as a subject in itself, as is done in Genetics, and then to investigate the impact of genetic characteristics on inheritance in a separate context, as we do here. Also included in the present essay is a brief history of genetic study, which reveals something about the way in which these many highly complex ideas fit together. Many brilliant minds have contributed to the modern understanding of genetics and heredity;