What is the scientific study of heredity called?

The scientific study of heredity is called genetics. Genetics focuses on how specific traits and characteristics are passed from parents to offspring through genes. It involves the examination of DNA, chromosomes, and inheritance patterns to understand how traits are inherited and how variations occur within populations. This field encompasses various topics, including genetic disorders, genetic mapping, and evolutionary genetics, making it a fundamental aspect of biological sciences.

The other fields mentioned do not specifically focus on heredity. Biology is the broad study of living organisms and life processes, encompassing genetics but also numerous other topics. Epidemiology studies the distribution and determinants of health-related states in populations, while anatomy focuses on the structure of organisms. Each of these fields contributes to our overall understanding of living systems but does not concentrate solely on heredity as genetics does.