What term describes the genetic blueprint of an organism?

The term that describes the genetic blueprint of an organism is "genome." The genome encompasses all the genetic material contained within an organism's cells, including both the genes and the non-coding sequences of DNA. It serves as the entire set of instructions needed for the development, functioning, and reproduction of the organism.

This comprehensive collection of genetic information dictates everything from physical characteristics to biochemical processes. The genome is key to understanding hereditary traits and how these traits can vary among individuals within a species.

Other concepts mentioned in the question, such as phenotype and genotype, refer to different aspects of genetics. The phenotype is the physical expression or characteristics of an organism, which is influenced by its genotype (the specific alleles it carries) and environmental factors. Meanwhile, the term allele refers to one of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a particular locus on a chromosome. Thus, the genome is the overarching term that accurately captures the full set of genetic instructions for an organism.