Question

Differentiate between genotype and phenotype.

Answer 1

Genotype and Phenotype are the two terms used in genetics to denote the genetic makeup and physical appearance of two organisms and out of these two, one is often influenced by the environment.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The genetic makeup and physical characteristics of an individual are by the terms Genotype and Phenotype respectively. Wilhelm Johannsen has given these two terms to Mendel's discovered unit of heredity. The differences between these two terms have been given below -

GENOTYPE	PHENOTYPE
Genotype (gene-hereditary unit;type-feature) is the genetic composition of an individual.	Phenotype(Pheno-Physical;type-feature) is the outer morphology or features of an individual.
The genotypic characters are inherited from one offspring to another during the reproduction process.	The phenotypic characters are not inherited.
Genotypes are completely dependent on gene sequences.	It is dependent on genotype for expression of physical characters.
Two different genotypes may have the same phenotype such as ‘TT’ & ‘Tt’ both will express the tall phenotype.	Two different phenotypes have different genotypes such as for tall it is ‘TT’ and for short it is ‘tt’.
It can be determined through DNA typing.	It is determined through observation of physical appearance and morphology of organisms.
It is found inside the body.	It is the outer feature of the body.
For example- ‘TT’ is the genotype of a pea plant.	For example- The taller plant is the phenotype of the pea plant due to the genotype ‘TT’ or ‘Tt’.

Note: -A genotype is also known as the “blueprint of the cell”.
-Genotype along with the environmental condition and Non-genetic influences determine the phenotype of an individual.
-Sequences that code for the gene is known as Alleles.