Explanation:

The study of population is a distinct field with a specific name. \nOption A: 'Paleontology' is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene Epoch. It involves the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with ancient environments. It is not the study of human population characteristics. \nOption B: 'Geography' is the study of the Earth's landscapes, peoples, places, and environments. It examines the spatial distribution of phenomena, including population, but it is a broader field, not exclusively focused on population characteristics. \nOption C: 'Demography' is the statistical study of populations, especially human beings. It involves the analysis of population size, structure, and distribution, and how these change over time due to birth, death, migration, and aging. Therefore, this option is correct. \nOption D: 'Sociology' is the scientific study of society, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture. While population trends are relevant to sociology, it is a broader discipline that studies social behavior and societal structures, not exclusively the statistical aspects of population itself. \nHence, 'Demography' is the precise term for the scientific study of population.