What does the term genotype refer to?

The term "genotype" refers to the total genetic makeup of an individual. It encompasses all the genetic information that an organism carries, which includes both the alleles that are expressed and those that may not be observable in the organism's phenotype. Genotype provides the foundational blueprint from which physical traits and characteristics are developed; however, it does not directly refer to the visible traits themselves, which are instead described by the term "phenotype." Unlike the specific physical forms of a trait, which may vary due to different alleles, or environmental influences that can affect the expression of genetic traits, the genotype remains constant and provides insight into the inherited characteristics and potential of that individual.