Question

Phenotype of an organism is the result of
A.Mutations and linkages
B.Cytoplasmic effects and nutrition
C.Environmental changes and sexual dimorphism.
D.Genotype and environment interactions.

Answer 1

The set of characters which can be easily observed are known as the phenotypic characters. The main difference between phenotype and genotype is that phenotype is not inheritable whereas the genotype is inherited.

Complete answer:
Although phenotype is different from genotype, the phenotype depends on the sets of genes that are the genotype and it also depends upon the environmental factors, this is the reason phenotype cannot be inherited, Two twins can have the same genotype but a different phenotype is possible depending on their environment.

Option A: Mutations directly cause a random and sudden change in the genome of an organism by modification in the base pairs, Similarly linkage also causes a change in the genotype of an organism, Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option B: Cytoplasmic effects are shown by cytoplasmic genes, it has an influence on the genotype of the organism but nutrition is an environmental factor and it affects the phenotype. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option C: Phenotype depends on various environmental factors but sexual dimorphism which refers to certain characters that distinguish two sexes and this sexual dimorphism totally depends on the genotype of an organism. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Option D: Phenotype depends on factors such as nutrition, Stress, and many other environmental factors and the genotype is also responsible for the phenotypic traits of an organism. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D)

Note: The difference between phenotype and genotype was proposed by William Johannsen in the year 1911. Phenomics refers to the study of a set of phenotypic characters. It is very important to not get confused between the two terms. Phenotype is external make up and genotype is internal make up.