What term describes the genetic makeup of an organism?

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The term that describes the genetic makeup of an organism is "genome." The genome encompasses all of the organism's genetic material, including all of its genes and non-coding sequences of DNA. This comprehensive genetic information serves as the blueprint for the development, functioning, and reproduction of the organism.

In contrast, "phenotype" refers to the observable traits or characteristics of an organism, which are influenced by its genotype as well as environmental factors. "Allele" denotes different versions of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome, contributing to variations in traits but not representing the entirety of an organism's genetic makeup. "Chromosome" is a structure within the cell that contains the DNA, and while it is a component of the genome, it does not itself define the complete genetic makeup of the organism. Thus, genome is the most accurate term to describe the entire genetic portfolio of an organism.

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