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Life & evolution

What you can see is not the whole genetic story

Phenotype describes observable traits; genotype describes genetic makeup.

An organism’s phenotype is the set of traits we can observe or measure. Its genotype is its genetic makeup. These are related, but seeing a trait does not always reveal exactly which genetic variants an organism carries.

In a simple dominant–recessive model, two different genotypes can produce the same visible trait. Many real traits are more complicated: several genes and environmental conditions can contribute. Keeping the two terms separate prevents a visible difference from becoming an unsupported claim about its genetic cause.

A small example

In a simplified model, AA and Aa both produce purple flowers. The flowers look alike for this trait, although their genotypes differ.

Keep in mind

The example illustrates a simple inheritance model, not a rule for every trait.

Source & attribution

Biology 2e — Characteristics and Traits

OpenStax contributors · OpenStax, Rice University

CC BY 4.0. Rewritten as a self-contained explanation; the example and reflection are Vakataka additions. Written and edited with AI assistance. No source images reproduced.

Source edition: 2024-12-20T02:54:45Z