Genetics is a branch of science that deals with genes, heredity, and genetic variations.
- Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism.
- Phenotype refers to its observable physical and physiological characteristics, which result from the interaction of the genotype and the environment.
The differences between genotype and phenotype are given below:
Features | Phenotype | Genotype |
|---|---|---|
Definition | The external appearance of an organism | Genetic composition of an organism |
Inheritance | The phenotype itself is not directly inherited, but it is based on the inherited genotype. | Inherited from parents to offspring |
Determination | Determined by observing the organism | Determined by biological methods like PCR |
Effect of Environment | Affected by environmental conditions | Affected by genes |
Visibility | Visible | Not visible |
Appearance | Physical appearance outside the body | Genetic material inside the body |
Change over time | Changes with time | Genotype is generally stable, but it can change due to mutations. |
Relationship | Organisms that have the same Phenotype don't need to also have the same Genotype. | Mainly, one Genotype produces only one Phenotype but in some different environmental conditions, one genotype can produce different phenotypes. |