What is indicated by homozygous in genetic terms?

Homozygous in genetic terms refers to an organism that has two identical alleles for a specific gene. This means that both inherited copies of the gene, one from each parent, are the same. For example, if a trait is determined by a gene that can have alleles A and a, a homozygous individual would have either two A alleles (homozygous dominant) or two a alleles (homozygous recessive).

When considering the options provided, it is clear that the definition of homozygous is best represented by "identical alleles." This reflects the genetic condition where the two alleles inherited for a particular gene are the same, whether they are dominant or recessive. Recognizing this concept is foundational for understanding more complex genetic principles, including how traits are expressed and inherited in organisms.