Describes the underlying genetic makeup of an individual.

Genotype is the complete description of an individual's genetic traits. Its companion—the phenotype—describes the observable traits, or outcome, of the genotype. The genotype includes information about inherited conditions and syndromes that are recessive and may not be apparent in the phenotype. For example, a child may have a recessive gene for blue eyes in his genotype, while having brown eyes in his phenotype. Understanding and analyzing the genotype are important in the diagnosis of genetically transmitted diseases or syndromes caused by recessive genes.

See Also

Phenotype