The genetic make up of a particular trait in an individual is its:

The genetic make up of a particular trait in an individual is its:

a. filial

b. genotype

c. heterozygosity

d. dominance

e. phenotype

Answer: b. genotype

Genotype is defined as the genetic endowment or the exact set of alleles in one’s body cells for the trait in question. It refers to the entire amount of information inherited through genes in an organism that may not always manifest in an individual’s exterior build or looks. Genotype is one of the basic concepts of genetic science because it relates to the capacity for the manifestation of various characteristics of an organism and its ability to pass certain features on to subsequent generations. Learning about genotypes is important for the recognition of genetic diseases, for creating purebred animals, and for deeper research on the topic of heredity.