( Heredity ( ( is ( ( the passing ) ( of ( ( traits ( -LRB- ( characteristics -RRB- ) ) ) ( from ( parents ( to offspring ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Heredity)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN passing)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NP (NNS traits)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (NP (NNP characteristics)) (-RRB- -RRB-))) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (NNS parents)) (PP (TO to) (NP (NN offspring))))))))) (. .)))
Heredity is the passing of traits (characteristics) from parents to offspring.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Heredity)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN science)) (PP (IN of) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB how)) (S (NP (NNS traits)) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBN passed) (PP (IN from) (NP (NNS parents))) (PP (TO to) (NP (NN offspring)))))))))) (. .)))