Inheriting

Inheriting refers to receiving assets, rights, or traits from a predecessor, typically after death or birth. In everyday use, it covers both legal succession and genetic transmission.

Legal inheritance: When a person dies, property passes to heirs through a will or by intestacy. A court-supervised probate process allocates assets, settles debts, and designates an executor. Heirs may receive real estate, money, or other possessions; distribution follows jurisdictional rules. Debts of the deceased may be paid from the estate before distribution.

Genetic inheritance: In biology, inheritance describes how genetic material is passed from parents to offspring. Classical Mendelian patterns show dominant and recessive alleles; others include incomplete dominance, codominance, and polygenic traits. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally. Variation arises from mutations, recombination, and gene-environment interactions; epigenetic factors can influence expression without changing DNA sequence.

Cultural and planning aspects: Cultural practices influence inheritance, including rules such as primogeniture or community property regimes. Tax implications and planning strategies (estate taxes, trusts) shape how inheritances are structured and distributed. Ethical and legal debates continue about equal rights, modernization of inheritance law, and the management of family wealth.