What field of study focuses on heredity?

The field of study that focuses on heredity is genetics. Genetics is the branch of biology that deals with the principles and processes of heredity and variation in living organisms. It explores how traits and characteristics are passed from one generation to the next through genes, which are the basic units of heredity. This includes understanding the structure and function of genes, the ways they can be expressed, and how genetic variation contributes to the diversity of life.

In genetics, researchers study topics such as inheritance patterns, mutations, genetic disorders, and the role of genes in development and evolution. This field has applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology, making it a foundational aspect of biological sciences.

Ecology, on the other hand, is concerned with the relationships between living organisms and their environment. Genomics involves the study of entire genomes, including the sequencing and analysis of DNA, which is broader than heredity alone. Epidemiology focuses on the study of how diseases spread and impact populations, rather than the genetic principles involved in heredity. Each of these fields has its own unique focus, but genetics specifically addresses the mechanisms of inheritance.