Trait Inheritance

Trait inheritance is the process by which organisms pass their characteristics, like eye color or height, from parents to their offspring. These traits are determined by genes, which are units of DNA inherited from the mother and father. Some traits are dominant, meaning only one copy of a gene is needed for the trait to appear, while others are recessive, requiring two copies. The combination of genes inherited influences the traits a person shows. This process explains why children often resemble their parents and why variation occurs within species.