What term is used to describe the genetic makeup of an organism?

The term that describes the genetic makeup of an organism is genotype. The genotype encompasses the specific alleles an organism carries, which can determine various traits and characteristics. For instance, an organism might have different combinations of alleles for a particular gene, influencing how that gene is expressed and contributing to the individual’s traits.

In contrast, phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits of an organism, which result from the interaction between its genotype and the environment. Alleles are the different forms of a gene that determine specific traits, while chromosomes are structures within cells that contain genetic material, organizing DNA into a format capable of replication and distribution during cell division. Collectively, these terms relate to genetics, but only genotype specifically addresses the underlying genetic constitution of the organism.