What does the term "genotype" refer to?

The term "genotype" refers to the genetic constitution or makeup of an organism. This encompasses all the hereditary information encoded in its DNA, including both alleles that may be expressed in the phenotype and those that may not be visibly expressed. The genotype determines an organism's potential traits and is foundational to understanding inheritance, variation, and the underlying biology of organisms.

When discussing organismal traits, the observable characteristics are described by the term "phenotype," which is influenced by both the genotype and environmental factors. Environmental influences are crucial for understanding how traits may manifest in different contexts, but they do not define the organism's genetic makeup. The evolutionary history of an organism pertains to its phylogeny and relationships with other species over time, which is separate from the specific genetic information contained within an individual organism's genotype. Understanding the distinction between genotype and these other concepts is essential for studying genetics and biological diversity.