The genetic make-up of an individual, referring to the specific alleles present, is called the

• A. Genotype
• B. Phenotype
• C. Genome
• D. Karyotype

Answer: (A)

The genetic make-up of an individual, in terms of the specific alleles they carry, is genotype. This term names the particular combination of versions of genes present at different places on the chromosomes, such as having two copies of a gene (homozygous) or two different copies (heterozygous). The genotype serves as the genetic blueprint that, together with environmental factors, helps determine the organism’s traits.

In contrast, phenotype is what you actually see or measure—the observable characteristics like eye color or height—resulting from how the genotype is expressed. The genome refers to the entire set of genetic material in the organism, all the genes and the noncoding DNA. The karyotype describes the number and structure of the chromosomes arranged in a standard set for the species.