génotypes

A genotype refers to the specific genetic makeup of an individual organism. It is the complete set of genes that an organism carries, inherited from its parents. This genetic code dictates an organism's traits, although not all genes may be actively expressed. Genotype is distinct from phenotype, which is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism. For example, a person's genotype for a particular trait, such as eye color, includes the specific alleles they possess, while their phenotype is their actual eye color.

Genotypes are determined by the combination of alleles an individual inherits for each gene. Alleles are different versions of the same gene. An individual receives one allele for each gene from each parent. This can result in a homozygous genotype, where both alleles are identical, or a heterozygous genotype, where the alleles are different. The interaction between these alleles, and with environmental factors, ultimately influences the expressed phenotype. The study of genotypes is fundamental to genetics and helps explain patterns of inheritance and the basis of many inherited conditions.