Genotype意思

"Genotype" is a term used in genetics to describe the genetic makeup of an organism. It refers to the specific alleles (variants of genes) that an individual possesses for a particular trait or set of traits. The genotype is often contrasted with the "phenotype," which is the observable physical or behavioral characteristics of an organism.

For example, in pea plants, the trait for flower color could have two different alleles: one for purple flowers and one for white flowers. If a plant has two purple alleles (PP), its genotype would be homozygous dominant for purple flowers. If a plant has one purple allele and one white allele (Pp), its genotype would be heterozygous, and the plant would also display purple flowers due to the dominant nature of the purple allele. If a plant has two white alleles (pp), its genotype would be homozygous recessive, and the plant would have white flowers.

Genotypes are typically represented using letters, with capital letters representing dominant alleles and lowercase letters representing recessive alleles. The genotype can be determined through genetic testing and is important in understanding how traits are passed down through generations and how different alleles can affect an organism's health and characteristics.