Humber Admissions Practice Test

What do we call the genetic makeup of an organism?

1. Dominant allele

2. Phenotype

3. Genotype

4. Recessive allele

The correct answer is: Genotype

The term that refers to the genetic makeup of an organism is the genotype. The genotype encompasses the specific alleles or genetic variations that an individual possesses for a particular trait or set of traits. This genetic composition plays a crucial role in determining various characteristics and potential expressions in the organism, although it may not directly correlate to observable traits. In contrast, the dominant and recessive alleles refer to specific versions of a gene that can influence the expression of traits but do not encompass the broader concept of an organism's entire genetic makeup. The phenotype is the observable characteristics or traits of an organism, which result from the interaction between its genotype and the environment, rather than being indicative of its underlying genetic configuration. Thus, genotype is the term that accurately describes the complete set of genes that an organism carries.