What does genotype specifically refer to?

Genotype refers specifically to the genetic makeup of an organism. This encompasses all the alleles that an organism possesses, both dominant and recessive, which contribute to the hereditary traits. Understanding genotype is crucial because it provides insight into the potential phenotypes—what traits might be expressed based on the underlying genetic information. This genetic composition can influence various factors, such as susceptibility to diseases, physical traits, and even behaviors, depending on how those genes interact with environmental factors.

The other options each highlight different aspects of genetics but do not define genotype accurately. For instance, the physical expression of traits pertains to phenotype, while the entire set of genes refers to the genome rather than genotype specifically. The behavior of an organism can be influenced by both genetics and environmental conditions, but it is not a direct representation of an organism's genetic makeup. Therefore, the definition of genotype as the genetic framework sets it apart from these concepts.