Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles Variations on a Theme * Offspring resemble their parents more than they do unrelated individuals * Heredity is the transmission of traits from one generation to the next * Variation is demonstrated by the differences in appearance that offspring show from parents and siblings * Genetics is the scientific study of heredity and variation Concept 13.1: Offspring acquire genes from parents by inheriting chromosomes * In a literal sense, children do not inherit particular physical traits from their parents * It is genes that are actually inherited Inheritance of Genes * Genes are the units of heredity and are made up of segments of DNA * Genes are passed to the next generation via reproductive cells called gametes (sperm and eggs)