What term describes the genetic makeup of an organism?

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

Answer: (B)

The term that describes the genetic makeup of an organism is genotype. The genotype refers specifically to the alleles present in an individual, essentially representing the genetic variations that an organism inherits from its parents. It serves as a blueprint for the potential traits that the organism might express, which are influenced by both the genotype and environmental factors.

In contrast, phenotype refers to the observable physical and biochemical characteristics of an organism, which are a result of the interaction between the genotype and environmental influences. Alleles are the different versions of a gene, and a trait is a specific characteristic or feature of an organism that can be influenced by the genotype, but does not directly refer to the makeup itself. Thus, the correct answer, genotype, accurately captures the essence of what constitutes the genetic information of an organism.