What term describes the study of heredity and variation in organisms?

The study of heredity and variation in organisms is referred to as genetics. This field focuses on how traits are passed down from one generation to the next through genes, which are the units of heredity located on chromosomes. Genetics encompasses various aspects, including the structure and function of genes, genetic variation, and the mechanisms of inheritance.

By exploring how genes contribute to phenotypic traits in organisms, genetics helps us understand not only individual hereditary patterns but also population-level changes over time. This understanding is foundational in disciplines like medicine, agriculture, and evolutionary biology, as it provides insight into how traits are expressed and how they can change across generations.

Taxonomy, on the other hand, deals with the classification of living organisms. Ecology studies the interactions between organisms and their environment, while evolutionary biology examines the processes that lead to the diversity of life through evolutionary changes over time. Each of these fields has specific focus areas, making genetics distinct in its concentration on heredity and genetic variation.