What term describes the genetic makeup of an individual?

Prepare for the PLTW Biomedical Science Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What term describes the genetic makeup of an individual?

Explanation:
Genetic makeup refers to the genotype—the specific alleles present for the genes inherited from parents. The genotype is like the organism’s genetic blueprint, which, along with environmental factors, helps determine traits. For a single gene with two alleles, the possible genotypes are combinations such as AA, Aa, or aa. This is different from phenotype, which is what you can observe (like eye color) that results from how the genotype is expressed. A genomic sequence is the exact order of nucleotides in the DNA, while a karyotype describes the number and structure of chromosomes. Therefore, genetic makeup is described by genotype.

Genetic makeup refers to the genotype—the specific alleles present for the genes inherited from parents. The genotype is like the organism’s genetic blueprint, which, along with environmental factors, helps determine traits. For a single gene with two alleles, the possible genotypes are combinations such as AA, Aa, or aa. This is different from phenotype, which is what you can observe (like eye color) that results from how the genotype is expressed. A genomic sequence is the exact order of nucleotides in the DNA, while a karyotype describes the number and structure of chromosomes. Therefore, genetic makeup is described by genotype.

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