Humber Admissions Practice Test

What does the term 'hereditary' refer to in genetics?

1. The likelihood of a trait being displayed

2. The process by which traits are acquired from the environment

3. The transmission of traits from one generation to the next

4. The study of genetic mutations

The correct answer is: The transmission of traits from one generation to the next

The term 'hereditary' in genetics is specifically related to the transmission of traits from one generation to the next. This concept is fundamental to understanding how genetic information is passed down from parents to their offspring. When we talk about hereditary traits, we are referring to characteristics that are encoded in the DNA and can be inherited through generations, such as eye color, height, and certain genetic conditions. This concept encompasses the principles of inheritance that were first described by Gregor Mendel in his work with peas, where he established the foundational laws of inheritance that explain how traits are passed through genes. The heritable traits are determined by alleles, which can either be dominant or recessive, influencing the phenotype—what traits are expressed in an individual. In contrast, other options relate to different aspects of genetics: the likelihood of a trait being displayed refers to probability rather than transmission, the process by which traits are acquired from the environment addresses interactions with external factors rather than genetic inheritance, and the study of genetic mutations focuses on changes within the genetic sequence rather than hereditary material itself. Each of these areas is important in genetics but does not capture the precise meaning of 'hereditary'.