Synapsis

Chapter 13 Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles Lecture Outline Overview: Hereditary Similarity and Variation Living organisms are distinguished by their ability to reproduce their own kind. Offspring resemble their parents more than they do less closely related individuals of the same species. The transmission of traits from one generation to the next is called heredity or inheritance. However, offspring differ somewhat from parents and siblings, demonstrating variation. Farmers have bred plants and animals for desired traits for thousands of years, but the mechanisms of heredity and variation eluded biologists until the development of genetics in the 20th century. Genetics is the scientific study of heredity and variation.