Question

What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

Answer 1

Genotype:

• The genetic makeup that is present in an organism is termed genotype.

Phenotype:

• An appearance of an organism, may it be external or physical, is called the phenotype.

The differences between genotype and phenotype are depicted in the following table:

Genotype	Phenotype
1. Genotype is an organism's genetic organization.	1. Phenotype deals with the appearance of an organism.
2. It is not a visible trait.	2. This is a trait that is visible.
3. A genotype controls a phenotype.	3. A phenotype does not control a genotype.
4. A pair of letters are used to represent a genotype.	4. It is not denoted with letters.
5. Example: In Mendel's experiment, YY or Yy was the genotype that brought the yellow color of the pea seeds.	5. Example: In the same experiment, the YY or Yy genotype brought the yellow color. That yellow color is the phenotype.