Heredity refers to the genotype (genetic makeup) of an organism. The study of heredity is called genetics and Gregor Mendel is considered to be a founder of this branch of science. He worked with the garden pea and did years of research involving traits like height, seed shape and flower color, among others.
Heredity influences several factors that contribute to fitness, such as body size and muscle fiber composition. Whether we are tall or short is determined by heredity.
Heredity is important to all living organisms as it determines which traits are passed from parent to child. Successful traits are more frequently passed along and over time can change a species. Changes in traits can allow organisms to adapt to specific environments for better rates of survival.
