The term for traits that are passed from parents to offspring is called heredity. This biological process involves the transmission of genetic information encoded in DNA from one generation to the next. Genes, which are segments of DNA, play a significant role in determining various traits, such as physical characteristics, behavior, and susceptibility to certain diseases. Understanding heredity is essential for fields like genetics, evolutionary biology, and medicine, as it helps explain how traits are inherited and can lead to the study of inherited disorders.