A genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, specifically the combination of alleles that an individual possesses for a particular trait. Genotypes are typically represented by letters, with uppercase letters representing dominant alleles and lowercase letters representing recessive alleles.
For example, in humans, the genotype for eye color can be represented as follows: - BB: Homozygous dominant for brown eyes - Bb: Heterozygous for brown eyes - bb: Homozygous recessive for blue eyes
Understanding an individual's genotype can provide insight into their genetic predispositions and potential for certain traits or diseases. It is important to note that genotypes do not always directly correspond to the physical characteristics of an organism, as gene expression and environmental factors can also play a role in determining an individual's phenotype.