What kind of genetic makeup is represented by a homozygous genotype?

A homozygous genotype is characterized by having two identical alleles for a specific gene. This means both alleles on the homologous chromosomes are the same, which can either be two dominant alleles or two recessive alleles. For example, in the case of a gene where "A" represents a dominant allele and "a" represents a recessive allele, a homozygous genotype could be either "AA" or "aa." This uniformity in alleles can significantly influence the organism's phenotype, as homozygous individuals display the traits associated with the identical alleles they possess. Understanding homozygosity is vital when studying inheritance patterns, as it underscores the principles of Mendelian genetics.