National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

The term that describes inherited factors transmitted from generation to generation is genotype. The genotype refers to the specific genetic makeup of an individual, consisting of the alleles they possess for a particular trait or traits. This genetic code is inherited from the individual's parents and dictates various biological characteristics.

In contrast, homozygote refers to an organism that has two identical alleles for a specific gene, while heterozygote indicates an organism that has two different alleles for a specific gene. Phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits of an organism that result from the interplay between its genotype and environmental influences. Thus, while homozygote and heterozygote relate to allele combinations and phenotype pertains to visible traits, genotype is the overarching term that encapsulates all inherited genetic information, solidifying its definition as inherited factors passed down through generations.