Which of the following statements is true about genotype?

The statement that genotype includes both dominant and recessive alleles is accurate because genotype refers to the genetic constitution of an organism, specifically the alleles that an individual possesses for a particular gene. These alleles can be either dominant or recessive, and together they determine the organism's genetic makeup. Inheritance of traits follows Mendelian principles, where dominant alleles can mask the expression of recessive alleles, but both are part of the genotype.

Understanding this is essential in the study of genetics and biology, as it provides the foundation for understanding how traits are passed down through generations. The interplay between different alleles contributes to the diversity of traits observed in the phenotype, which is the actual expression of these genetic traits. Thus, recognizing that both dominant and recessive alleles fall within the definition of genotype is crucial to grasping concepts related to heredity and phenotypic expression.