Genotype and phenotype are two fundamental concepts in genetics that refer to different aspects of an organism's characteristics.
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Genotype: This term refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, specifically the alleles (versions of a gene) that it carries. The genotype dictates the potential traits that an organism can express but does not determine them outright. For example, a genotype may include specific combinations of alleles, such as homozygous dominant (AA), homozygous recessive (aa), or heterozygous (Aa).
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Phenotype: This refers to the observable physical and biochemical characteristics of an organism, which result from the interaction of its genotype with the environment. Phenotypes include traits such as height, eye color, blood type, and the presence of certain diseases. For example, a person with the genotype Aa might have a particular eye color that is influenced by the combination of alleles and environmental factors.
In summary:
- The genotype is the genetic code (the alleles) that an organism carries.
- The phenotype is the expression of those genes in the organism's traits and characteristics, influenced both by genetics and environmental factors.
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