What term describes the combination of alleles an organism carries?

The term that describes the combination of alleles an organism carries is known as the genotype. The genotype refers to the specific genetic constitution of an organism, encompassing all the alleles for a given set of genes. This includes both dominant and recessive alleles, which together dictate various traits and characteristics expressed by the organism.

Understanding the concept of genotype is crucial in genetics because it provides insight into potential phenotypic expressions, which are the observable traits or characteristics. While the phenotype results from the interaction between the genotype and environmental factors, the genotype itself is strictly focused on the genetic makeup.

The other terms listed do not accurately describe the combination of alleles. The phenotype refers to the actual physical characteristics and traits expressed by an organism, while the karyotype represents the complete set of chromosomes in a cell, showcasing the structural organization rather than the specific alleles. A haplotype, on the other hand, refers to a set of DNA variations or polymorphisms that are inherited together, typically used in the context of specific regions of the genome rather than the overall genetic composition of the organism.