Here's a breakdown:
* Allele: A variant form of a gene. For example, the gene for eye color might have alleles for blue eyes, brown eyes, or green eyes.
* Genotype: The specific combination of alleles an individual possesses for a particular trait. This determines the individual's genetic makeup.
* Phenotype: The observable characteristics of an individual, resulting from the interaction of their genotype and the environment.
For instance, a person might have the genotype "Bb" for eye color, where "B" represents the brown eye allele and "b" represents the blue eye allele. This genotype could lead to a brown eye phenotype (if brown is dominant) or a blue eye phenotype (if blue is recessive).
