Why it matters

Genotype describes the genetic information being examined. A report might describe just one position, a panel of markers, or a much broader set. Knowing that scope helps a reader understand what was tested and what remains unknown.

A practical example

Imagine a file that records two versions of a marker for each participant. Those entries are genotypes. The file does not need a complete genome to support useful comparisons between records.

An important distinction

A genotype is not a diagnosis or a complete description of a person. Interpreting its significance may require other variants, environmental context, family history, and evidence about the particular condition or trait.

Sources and further reading

The example above is hypothetical. Related cases provide context; they do not imply that every case involved this mechanism.