Which term describes the genetic makeup of an organism for a given trait?

Study for the 9th Grade Biology SOL Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term describes the genetic makeup of an organism for a given trait?

Explanation:
The genetic makeup for a trait is the specific set of alleles an organism carries. This combination—that is, which versions of a gene the organism has—is called the genotype. For a trait with alleles A and a, the possible genotypes are AA, Aa, or aa. The genotype helps determine the phenotype, the observable trait such as eye color, though the environment can also influence how it’s expressed. A Punnett square is a tool used to predict possible offspring genotypes, not the organism’s own genotype. Transcription is the process of copying DNA into RNA. Therefore, the term that describes an organism’s genetic makeup for a given trait is genotype.

The genetic makeup for a trait is the specific set of alleles an organism carries. This combination—that is, which versions of a gene the organism has—is called the genotype. For a trait with alleles A and a, the possible genotypes are AA, Aa, or aa. The genotype helps determine the phenotype, the observable trait such as eye color, though the environment can also influence how it’s expressed. A Punnett square is a tool used to predict possible offspring genotypes, not the organism’s own genotype. Transcription is the process of copying DNA into RNA. Therefore, the term that describes an organism’s genetic makeup for a given trait is genotype.

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