Which concept refers to the characteristics passed down from parents to children?

The concept that refers to the characteristics passed down from parents to children is heredity. Heredity specifically encompasses the process through which genetic traits, characteristics, and predispositions are transferred from one generation to the next, governed by the principles of genetics. It includes not only physical traits, like eye color or height, but also can involve certain health conditions and behavioral tendencies that can be inherited.

While genetics is closely related and involves the study of genes and how they function, it is a broader field encompassing various aspects of biological inheritance, including the molecular structure and function of genes. Traits and DNA describe parts of the hereditary process—traits are the observable characteristics influenced by genetics, and DNA is the chemical structure that carries genetic information. However, heredity is the term that directly describes the transmission of these characteristics from parents to offspring.