Definition
In genetics, a factor (often called a gene today) is a segment of DNA that influences a specific trait or characteristic. Think of it as an instruction manual for building a particular feature, like eye color or height. Each individual inherits two copies of each factor, one from each parent. These factors interact to determine the final expression of the trait. For example, one factor might code for brown eyes, while another codes for blue eyes. How these factors interact decides your eye color. In mathematics, a factor is a number that divides evenly into another number, a related but separate meaning.