Which term refers to the study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring?

The term that specifically refers to the study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring is genetics. Genetics encompasses the examination of genes, the mechanisms of inheritance, and the variations in traits among organisms. It explores how specific traits are transmitted through generations and the biological processes involved in these transmissions, including the roles of DNA and chromosomes.

Heredity, while closely related, focuses more specifically on the process through which these traits are actually passed down from one generation to the next, making it a subset of genetics rather than a comprehensive field on its own. Evolution, on the other hand, deals with the broader concepts of how species change over time and does not specifically center on the inheritance of traits. Biology is the overarching study of living organisms and encompasses various fields, including genetics, but does not specifically address the mechanisms of trait inheritance.