Define genotype and phenotype. Describe how they are related and how alleles fit into your definitions.

Key Concepts

Genotype

Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, specifically the alleles it possesses for a particular gene or set of genes. It is the underlying genetic information that can influence various traits. For example, an individual may have a genotype of 'AA', 'Aa', or 'aa' for a specific trait, where 'A' and 'a' represent different alleles.

Phenotype

Phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by both its genotype and environmental influences. It includes traits such as height, eye color, and blood type. For instance, two individuals with the same genotype may exhibit different phenotypes if they are exposed to different environmental conditions.

Alleles

Alleles are different versions of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome. They can be dominant or recessive, influencing the phenotype expressed in an organism. For example, in a gene controlling flower color, one allele may produce red flowers (dominant) while another produces white flowers (recessive), affecting the organism's observable traits.