heredity

Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

he·red·i·ty (hə-rĕdʹĭ-tē)n. pl. he·red·i·ties
1. The genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring.
2. The sum of characteristics and associated potentialities transmitted genetically to an individual organism. [French hérédité, from Old French heredite, inheritance, from Latin hērēditās, from hērēs, hērēd-, heir. See ghē- in Indo-European Roots.]