What is a genotype?

A genotype refers to the specific genetic makeup of an organism, encompassing the alleles it carries for various genes. This genetic constitution determines many of the organism’s traits and characteristics, although not solely, as those traits can also be influenced by environmental factors. Understanding genotypes is crucial in genetics because they provide insight into hereditary patterns, potential characteristics that might be expressed, and how organisms may respond to their environment. This distinction between genotype and phenotype, which is the observable expression of the genotype, underlines the importance of genetic information in biology.