What is the term for the visible result of a gene that is expressed?

What is the term for the visible result of a gene that is expressed?

• A. Phenotype
• B. Genotype
• C. Allele
• D. Chromosome

Answer: (A)

The term that refers to the visible result of a gene that is expressed is phenotype. The phenotype encompasses all observable traits and characteristics of an organism, including physical appearance, behavior, and biochemical properties. It is the manifestation of the genotype—essentially, the genetic makeup of an individual. While the genotype denotes the specific alleles an organism carries (the genetic code), the phenotype reveals how these alleles are expressed in the organism’s traits. Understanding this distinction is crucial in genetics, as the same genotype can sometimes lead to different phenotypes due to environmental factors or interactions with other genes. This principle highlights the complexity of gene expression and the importance of considering both genetic and environmental influences in studying traits.

The term that refers to the visible result of a gene that is expressed is phenotype. The phenotype encompasses all observable traits and characteristics of an organism, including physical appearance, behavior, and biochemical properties. It is the manifestation of the genotype—essentially, the genetic makeup of an individual. While the genotype denotes the specific alleles an organism carries (the genetic code), the phenotype reveals how these alleles are expressed in the organism’s traits.

Understanding this distinction is crucial in genetics, as the same genotype can sometimes lead to different phenotypes due to environmental factors or interactions with other genes. This principle highlights the complexity of gene expression and the importance of considering both genetic and environmental influences in studying traits.