What are characteristics passed down from the genes of animals called?

The correct answer is "Inheritance" because it specifically refers to the process through which traits and characteristics are passed down from parents to their offspring through genes. Inheritance involves the transmission of genetic information, which dictates various physical traits, behaviors, and biological functions found in animals and plants.

Genetics, while closely related, is a broader field that studies the structure, function, and behavior of genes, including the principles of heredity. Genomics delves into the analysis of the entirety of an organism's genes and their interactions, which goes beyond just the concept of trait transmission. Evolution refers to the process by which species change over time through natural selection and genetic variation, but it does not specifically address how traits are inherited from one generation to the next.