Which type of mutation is acquired in body cells and is not passed on to offspring?

The type of mutation that is acquired in body cells and is not passed on to offspring is a somatic mutation. These mutations occur in non-reproductive cells and can arise from various factors such as environmental influences or errors during cell division. Since somatic mutations do not affect the germ cells (sperm and eggs), they are not inherited by the next generation.

In contrast, germline mutations occur in the reproductive cells and can be passed down to offspring, affecting the genetic makeup of future generations. Lethal mutations typically result in the death of the organism before reproduction can occur, and homozygous mutations refer to mutations present in both alleles of a gene, which can occur in either somatic or germline cells, but do not specify whether they are inherited. Thus, somatic mutations are specifically characterized by their occurrence in body cells and their inability to be transmitted to the next generation.