The ability of cells to pass on their characteristics to new cells is most directly related to the ability of

The ability of cells to pass on their characteristics to new celss is most direclty related to the ability of "the chromosomes to replicate."

Explanation:

First of all, let's analyze all the options:

Mitocrondria's release of energy is not related to DNA replication. Even though they have DNA and they are the core of the cell the DNA from the cellular division is not taken from it. So it's incorrect.

Chloroplast to capture energy. Well if this would be the case, animals couldn't have cell replication or reproduction because only plant cells' have chloroplasts. So it's wrong.

Cytosol to release waste is incorrect also because waste is not employed in the reproduction process.

And finally, chromosomes to replicate, because the DNA chain is divided and then two identical chains of chromosomes grow to two different cells.

"1. it should be, it has been for about 20 years, and it's really not much different in the end than breeding animals to have particular traits. there are always concerns about genetically engineered animals/plants affecting the environment in unexpected negative ways, but i can't think of an example where the fears didn't turn out to be baseless.  

first, as you point out, it would be a great advance in pharmacology, to be able to tailor drugs and their doses to me. the pros involve better medical treatment. the cons involve privacy issues like insurance companies denying coverage to people with genetic risk factors. looking at dna markers wouldn't affect the frequency of genetic diseases, but it would allow detection of them earlier. and ok, actually i suppose that if people used this information to avoid having children with genetic diseases, some might decrease in frequency."

c should be the answer