What represents the specific allelic composition of an individual?

• A. Phenotype
• B. Genotype
• C. Karyotype
• D. Allele

Answer: (B)

The term that represents the specific allelic composition of an individual is genotype. A genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, particularly with respect to specific genes or alleles. For example, an individual might carry different alleles of a gene, such as one allele for brown eyes and another for blue eyes. The combination of these alleles constitutes the organism's genotype.

In contrast, phenotype describes the observable characteristics or traits of an organism that result from the interaction of the genotype with the environment. Karyotype refers to the number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell and is used to identify chromosomal abnormalities rather than specific allelic compositions. Lastly, allele refers to one of the various forms of a gene, but it does not encompass the overall genetic composition of the individual, which is precisely captured by the concept of genotype.