Science PSSA Practice Test 2026 - Free PSSA Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

The scientific study of heredity is referred to as genetics. This field focuses on understanding how traits and characteristics are passed from parents to offspring through genes. Genetics encompasses various aspects, including the structure and function of genes, the mechanisms of inheritance, and the variability and change in populations over time.

Genomics, while related, is a broader field that involves the analysis and comparison of genomes, offering insights beyond heredity alone. Biology encompasses the overall study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments, which includes genetics as one of its many branches. Eugenics is a historical movement based on the idea of improving genetic quality in humans, which has ethical and moral implications and is not focused solely on the study of heredity itself. Therefore, genetics is the most accurate term for the scientific study of heredity.