PsychologyJuly 18, 2026
genotype
/ˈdʒɛn.ə.taɪp/
Definition
The complete genetic constitution of an individual organism, representing their inherited biological blueprint.
Etymology
The word is a 20th-century coinage derived from the Greek 'genos' (race, offspring) and 'typos' (imprint, type). It was introduced to distinguish the underlying genetic makeup of an organism from its observable physical characteristics, known as the phenotype.
In the news
The article uses the term to discuss the inherited biological predispositions that interact with a child's environment to shape their cognitive development. It highlights that while genetics are important, they do not act alone in determining intelligence.
How a parent's education level predicts cognitive scores in children receiving mental health support
Read the full article ↗PsyPost