heredity /həred″itē/ [L, hereditas, inheritance] , 1. the process by which particular traits or conditions are genetically transmitted from parents to offspring, causing resemblance of individuals related by descent. It involves the separation and recombination of genes during meiosis and fertilization and the further interaction of developmental influences and genetic material during embryogenesis. 2. the total genetic constitution of an individual; the sum of the qualities inherited from ancestors and the potentialities of transmitting these qualities to offspring.
