Everything you need to live well A genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism. This describes the gene – the functional unit of inheritance in an individual, and their combinations. It is a set of instructions for the growth and the development of particular traits in the body, like a software. Each genotype codes for a specific feature and gives rise to observable outward or physical attributes, called phenotype which mostly depends on the genotype and the environment. The gene for a particular trait may exist in two forms called alleles in which one may be dominant (represented by a capital letter e.g. A) and another recessive (represented by a small letter e.g. a). These two are the building blocks of organisms which make us unique entities and are inherited from our parents. Genetics background. 3D render. When genotype is discussed in love and relationships, it is often about genetic disorders – diseases that can be passed from parents to their offsprin...