The transmission of genetic information from parents to offspring is called heredity. Heredity is the process by which traits and characteristics are passed down from one generation to the next through the genes that are located on chromosomes in the cells of living organisms. Genes are made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which contains the instructions for how an organism will develop and function. During reproduction, genes are copied and passed on from parent to offspring, ensuring that certain traits and characteristics are inherited by the next generation.