Genetics
Inheritance
The transmission of genetic information from parents to offspring. Inheritance determines which traits are passed between generations.
Biological Context
Mendel discovered inheritance rules using pea plants. Chromosomes carry inherited information. Some traits follow simple patterns; others involve multiple genes and environment. Epigenetic inheritance can pass information beyond DNA sequence.
Business Application
Organizational inheritance: what passes from one generation of leaders, employees, or products to the next. Culture, knowledge, and practices are inherited. Some inheritance is explicit (documentation); much is tacit (learned through experience).