What is the genetic makeup of an individual with two identical alleles for a trait called?

The genetic makeup of an individual with two identical alleles for a trait is referred to as homozygous. This means that both alleles inherited from the parents are the same, which can be either dominant or recessive. For example, if an organism inherits two alleles for purple flower color from its parents, it would be considered homozygous for that trait. In contrast, a heterozygous individual would have two different alleles for the same trait, indicating variation in the genetic information. Understanding these terms is essential in genetics, as they help describe how traits are inherited and expressed in organisms. The concepts of dominance and recessiveness pertain to the expression of traits, not the alleles' identity, which clarifies why they don't directly define homozygosity.