Solution:  The following are the basic characteristics of the inheritance mechanism:

1. Characters are controlled by genes
2. Genes exist in two or more forms
3. One gene form may be dominant over others.
4. Genes can be found on chromosomes.
5. Individual genes exist in two forms that may be identical or dissimilar 
6. Two forms of the gene separate at the time of gamete creation • Two forms of genes are brought together in the zygote