Hereditary vs. Heredity — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 8, 2024
Hereditary refers to the genetic transmission of traits from parents to offspring, while heredity is the biological process through which these traits are passed down.
Difference Between Hereditary and Heredity
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Hereditary is an adjective describing traits or conditions that are passed from parents to their offspring through genes, whereas heredity is a noun that refers to the overall genetic mechanism of this transmission.
Traits that are hereditary, such as eye color or genetic disorders, are concrete manifestations of heredity, which encompasses the entire genetic framework of inheritance, including dominant and recessive gene behaviors.
Hereditary can be used to describe specific genetic characteristics or diseases that are inherited, emphasizing the result of heredity, while heredity itself is the study and science of how these genetic traits are transmitted.
The discussion of something being hereditary often arises in medical, genetic, and family history contexts, focusing on the outcomes of genetic inheritance, whereas discussions of heredity are more common in genetics, biology, and educational settings, dealing with the processes and principles.
Legal and social contexts may also refer to hereditary titles or roles, illustrating a broader usage outside of biology, while heredity strictly pertains to biological inheritance and its scientific implications.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Noun
Focus
Traits or conditions being passed
Process of passing traits
Usage Contexts
Medical, genetic, social (titles)
Genetics, biology, education
Relation to Genetics
Describes outcomes of genetic processes
Study or principle of genetic transmission
Examples
Hereditary diseases, hereditary roles
Principles of genetics, genetic inheritance
Compare with Definitions
Hereditary
Passed down by inheritance from an ancestor; transmitted from parent to child.
The hereditary condition was evident in several family members.
Heredity
The biological inheritance of physical or psychological traits.
Heredity influences various aspects of human behavior.
Hereditary
Of or relating to genes or heredity.
The study focused on hereditary patterns within the population.
Heredity
A set of traits potentially passed from generation to generation.
Scientists study heredity to understand evolution and species development.
Hereditary
Pertaining to inheritance or the transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring.
Hereditary traits include both physical and behavioral characteristics.
Heredity
The total genetic constitution of an organism, transferred from parents to children.
Heredity involves both dominant and recessive genes.
Hereditary
Conferring, or based on inheritance.
The hereditary title passed from the queen to her eldest son.
Heredity
The study of genetic inheritance.
Heredity is a key topic in biology courses.
Hereditary
Genetically transferred from generation to generation.
Hereditary genetic disorders can be tested early in life.
Heredity
The genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring.
Hereditary
(of a title, office, or right) conferred by or based on inheritance
The Queen's hereditary right to the throne
Heredity
The sum of characteristics and associated potentialities transmitted genetically to an individual organism.
Hereditary
(of a set) defined such that every element which has a given relation to a member of the set is also a member of the set.
Heredity
Hereditary transmission of the physical and genetic qualities of parents to their offspring; the biological law by which living beings tend to repeat their characteristics in their descendants.
Hereditary
Of or relating to heredity or inheritance.
Heredity
Hereditary transmission of the physical and psychical qualities of parents to their offspring; the biological law by which living beings tend to repeat their characteristics in their descendants. See Pangenesis.
Hereditary
Transmitted or capable of being transmitted genetically from parent to offspring
A hereditary disease.
Heredity
The biological process whereby genetic factors are transmitted from one generation to the next
Hereditary
Passed down from one generation to the next
A hereditary prejudice.
Heredity
The total of inherited attributes
Hereditary
Being such or possessed by reason of birth
A hereditary aristocracy.
Hereditary
Capable of being inherited.
Hereditary
Descending from an ancestor to a legal heir; passing down by inheritance.
Hereditary
Having title or possession through inheritance.
Hereditary
Passed on as an inheritance, by last will or intestate.
Hereditary
Of a person: holding a legally hereditary title or rank.
Hereditary rulers
Hereditary
Of a disease or trait: passed from a parent to offspring in the genes.
Haemophilia is hereditary in his family.
Hereditary
(math) Of a ring: such that all submodules of projective modules over the ring are also projective.
Hereditary
A hereditary ruler; a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.
Hereditary
Descended, or capable of descending, from an ancestor to an heir at law; received or passing by inheritance, or that must pass by inheritance; as, an hereditary estate or crown.
Hereditary
Transmitted, or capable of being transmitted, as a constitutional quality or condition from a parent to a child; as, hereditary pride, bravery, disease.
Hereditary
Tending to occur among members of a family usually by heredity;
An inherited disease
Familial traits
Genetically transmitted features
Hereditary
Inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent;
Ancestral home
Ancestral lore
Hereditary monarchy
Patrimonial estate
Transmissible tradition
Common Curiosities
Can heredity influence personality?
Yes, heredity can influence aspects of personality by passing down behavioral traits genetically.
What are common hereditary conditions?
Common hereditary conditions include cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and hemophilia.
How is heredity different from hereditary?
Heredity is the process of genetic transmission, while hereditary describes the traits or conditions that result from this process.
Is heredity solely responsible for all traits in an organism?
Heredity is responsible for genetic traits, but environmental factors also significantly influence an organism's development.
How do scientists study heredity?
Scientists study heredity through genetics, experiments, and analysis of family lineages.
What does hereditary mean in a biological context?
In biology, hereditary refers to traits or conditions genetically passed from parents to offspring.
What does it mean if a disease is not hereditary?
If a disease is not hereditary, it means it does not result from genetic factors but may be caused by environmental influences or other factors.
What role does heredity play in evolution?
Heredity is fundamental to evolution, as it allows for genetic variations that can lead to evolutionary changes.
Can hereditary traits skip generations?
Yes, some hereditary traits can skip generations, especially if they are recessive.
How is hereditary information stored in an organism?
Hereditary information is stored in DNA, which is present in every cell of an organism.
Can hereditary traits be altered?
While hereditary traits are based on genetic codes, modern genetic engineering technologies can alter these traits to some extent.
What is a hereditary title?
A hereditary title is a title that is passed down through family lines, usually in aristocratic or royal contexts.
How can understanding heredity benefit medicine?
Understanding heredity can help in predicting, diagnosing, and treating genetic diseases more effectively.
What are the ethical concerns related to studying heredity?
Ethical concerns include privacy, consent for genetic testing, and the potential for genetic discrimination.
How accurate are home DNA tests in determining heredity?
Home DNA tests can provide insights into genetic heritage and predispositions, but they may not cover all aspects of heredity and should be interpreted with caution.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
