Genotype and phenotype

An organism’s genotype is its genetic constitution: the genetic information it carries. Its phenotype is the set of observable characteristics it has, such as its height or colour.

The phenotype results from the expression of the genotype and its interaction with the environment. Environmental conditions can influence how characteristics develop, so the genotype alone does not always determine the exact phenotype.

For example, two genetically identical plants may grow to different heights if one receives less light than the other. They have the same genotype, but their different environments can produce differences in phenotype.