A characteristic that can be passed on to offspring through its genes is called:

• A. Trait
• B. Phenotype
• C. Genotype
• D. DNA

Answer: (A)

The main idea is identifying what we call a characteristic that can be passed from parents to offspring through genes. That characteristic is a trait. A trait is a heritable feature—like eye color, height, or blood type—that can be transmitted to the next generation because it's encoded by genes.

It's helpful to distinguish it from related terms. Phenotype is the actual observable form of a trait, which can be influenced by environment alongside genetics. Genotype refers to the specific genetic makeup or alleles an individual has, which underlies potential traits but isn’t itself a visible characteristic. DNA is the molecule that stores and transmits genetic information, not a trait itself.

So, a trait is the heritable characteristic that can be passed down through generations, while phenotype is what you see, genotype is the genetic makeup, and DNA is the carrier of genetic information.