What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?

Genotype and phenotype are two fundamental genetic terms that describe different aspects of an organism’s traits.

Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism—the combination of alleles inherited from parents.

Phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits of an organism, which result from the interaction of its genotype and the environment.

Key differences:

• Definition:
  Genotype: genetic constitution (allele combination)
  Phenotype: physical expression of traits

• Nature:
  Genotype is not directly visible; phenotype is observable.

• Influence:
  Genotype is determined by inheritance; phenotype is influenced by both genotype and environmental factors.

• Example:
  Genotype: TT, Tt, or tt
  Phenotype: tall or short plant

• Variability:
  Same genotype can sometimes produce different phenotypes under different environmental conditions.

In simple terms: Genotype is the genetic code, while phenotype is how that code appears in the organism.