Which of the following terms describes the genetic makeup of an organism?

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The term that describes the genetic makeup of an organism is genotype. Genotype refers specifically to the set of genes that an individual carries, which includes both dominant and recessive alleles. This genetic composition plays a crucial role in determining the various traits exhibited by the organism.

For instance, an individual with one allele for brown eyes and one allele for blue eyes would have a specific genotype that dictates the potential physical expression of eye color. This encapsulation of an organism's genetic blueprint is distinct from other terms like phenotype, which refers to the observable characteristics that result from the interaction of the genotype with the environment.

Alleles are variations of a gene that can exist, and gametes are the reproductive cells that carry genetic information but do not define the entire genetic makeup of the organism. Hence, referring to genotype accurately captures the underlying genetic information that determines an organism's hereditary traits.