descendants

Descendants are individuals who originate from an ancestor through successive generations. The term is used in genealogy, biology, and law to describe a line of descent. In genealogical terms, a person’s descendants include all their offspring in future generations—their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on. Direct or lineal descendants descend through the ancestor’s uninterrupted vertical line, while collateral descendants descend from the ancestor through siblings or other relatives.

In biology, descendants refer to organisms that share a common ancestor. Modern biology emphasizes descent with modification, whereby descendants accumulate genetic changes over generations, producing the diversity of life observed today. Phylogenetic trees and cladistics map the relationships among species by tracing their descent from common ancestors.

In legal and social contexts, descendants may be recognized for purposes of inheritance, succession, or family obligations. The status and rights of descendants can affect wills, estates, and custody arrangements, depending on jurisdiction and law.

In culture, the term appears in titles and narratives, such as the Disney Channel film Descendants (2015) and its franchise, which centers on the children of fictional characters.

See also: ancestor, lineage, pedigree, heredity, kinship.