Which term describes the genetic makeup of an organism?

Which term describes the genetic makeup of an organism?

• A. Genotype
• B. Phenotype
• C. Allele
• D. Chromosome

Answer: (A)

The genetic makeup of an organism is described by its genotype—the specific set of alleles it carries for its genes. This is the hidden genetic information that can influence traits, even if you don’t see those traits directly. The observable traits, like color or height, make up the phenotype, which results from how the genotype expresses itself in the organism and interacts with the environment. An allele is a variant form of a gene, one piece of the genotype, while a chromosome is the structure that carries many genes. So genotype best captures the idea of the complete genetic makeup.

The genetic makeup of an organism is described by its genotype—the specific set of alleles it carries for its genes. This is the hidden genetic information that can influence traits, even if you don’t see those traits directly. The observable traits, like color or height, make up the phenotype, which results from how the genotype expresses itself in the organism and interacts with the environment. An allele is a variant form of a gene, one piece of the genotype, while a chromosome is the structure that carries many genes. So genotype best captures the idea of the complete genetic makeup.