A living thing's genotype is the set of genes it carries — the instructions written in its DNA. That is not the same as how it looks or acts on the outside. Two plants can look different and still share the same genotype, or look the same and carry different genes.

A living thing’s genotype一個生物的genotype is the set of genes it carries是牠所帶有的那組基因—— the instructions written in its DNA也就是寫在牠DNA裡的指令。 That is not the same as how it looks or acts on the outside這跟牠外表看起來或表現出來的樣子不是同一回事。 Two plants can look different and still share the same genotype兩株植物可能長得不一樣，卻帶有相同的genotype， or look the same and carry different genes或者長得一樣，卻帶有不同的基因。

Scientists also use it as a verb: to genotype someone is to test their DNA and find out which genes they have.

Scientists also use it as a verb科學家也把這個字當動詞用： to genotype someone is to test their DNA and find out which genes they have意思是幫他驗DNA、找出他帶有哪些基因。

You will meet this word in biology, in medicine, and in news about DNA tests. It is a science word, not everyday talk.

You will meet this word in biology, in medicine, and in news about DNA tests你會在生物學、醫學，還有關於DNA檢測的新聞裡遇到這個字。 It is a science word, not everyday talk這是個科學用詞，不是日常會講的話。

Though actually, people sometimes stretch it and say 'a genotype' for one whole kind of living thing, as if the genes and the kind were the same thing. Strictly, the genotype is the gene pattern; the kind is bigger than that.

Though actually不過事實上， people sometimes stretch it and say 'a genotype' for one whole kind of living thing有時候大家會把它延伸，用「a genotype」來指一整個種類的生物， as if the genes and the kind were the same thing好像基因和物種是同一件事似的。 Strictly, the genotype is the gene pattern嚴格來說，genotype指的是基因的組合模式； the kind is bigger than that而物種涵蓋的範圍比這個更大。