The genotype is the genetic constitution of an organism
The genotype is the complete set of alleles an organism carries in its DNA. Think of it as the genetic instruction manual — written in the cells, not always visible from the outside.
Real World
Identical twins share the same genotype, which is why companies like 23andMe would return matching DNA reports for both — yet the twins can still differ in weight or fitness because genotype alone does not determine every trait.
Exam Focus
Define genotype as 'the alleles an organism possesses' — never say 'the genes', as alleles are the specific versions.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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