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Phenotype

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Phenotype Definition

MVSAT 2024

Phenotype Meaning: A phenotype definition is a collection of measurable phenotypic characteristics or attributes of an organism in genetics. The word applies to an organism's morphology, or physical shape and structure, as well as its developmental stages, physiological and biochemical processes, actions, and behavioural products. The expression of an organism's genetic code, or genotype, and the effect of environmental factors are the two essential factors that determine its phenotype. Both of these factors can interact, influencing phenotypic traits even more. Polymorphic species occur when two or maybe more remarkably different phenotypes occur in almost the same population of organisms.


Phenotype definition biology tells that Labrador Retriever colouring is a well-known example of polymorphism; although the coat colour is determined by several genes, it is fully evident in the setting as black, yellow, and brown. Richard Dawkins proposed that bird nests and some other constructed structures including beaver dams and caddis-fly larvae cases may be considered "extended phenotypes" in 1978 and again in his 1982 book The Extended Phenotype.


In 1911, Wilhelm Johannsen suggested the genotype-phenotype meaning distinction to distinguish between an organism's heredity and the products of that heredity. August Weismann (1834-1914), who differentiated amongst somatic cells(the body) and germplasm (heredity), suggested a similar distinction.


The genotype-phenotype distinction does not need to be mistaken with Francis Crick's fundamental dogma of molecular biology, which states that molecular sequential information flows from DNA to protein, not the other way around.


Phenotype Example: Height, wing length, and hair colour are examples of phenotypes. Noticeable features that can be tested in the laboratory, including hormone levels or blood cells, are often included in the Phenotype example.

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Phenotypic Variation

Phenotypic variation (owing to basic heritable genetic variation) is indeed a necessary condition for natural selection evolution. Natural selection influences the genetic makeup of a population indirectly through the contribution of phenotypes since it is the living organism and that's something that contributes (or does not) towards the next generation. There will be no evolution through natural selection lacking phenotypic variation.

The Following Relationship was Used to Describe the Association between Genotype and Phenotype:

Genotype (g) + Environment (e) → Phenotype (p)

The Following is a More Complex Version of the Relationship:

Genotype (g) + Environment (e) + Genotype & Environment Interactions (ge) → Phenotype (p)


Most genotypes have a lot of versatility when it comes to modifying and expressing phenotypes; in several species, such phenotypes are somewhat different depending on the setting. In Sweden, the plant Hieracium umbellatum can be found in two different ecosystems. The trees grow bushy with large leaves and enlarged inflorescences over rocky seaside cliffs, while the trees grow prostrate with narrow leaves and compact inflorescences across sand dunes. Such habitats alternate all along the Swedish coast and the phenotype which grows is determined by the environment in which the seeds of Hieracium umbellatum fall.


The number of ommatidia in Drosophila flies can differ (randomly) amongst left and right eyes in such a single person, as well as between genotypes or clones born in different environments.


The term "phenotype" refers to differences in an organism's fitness that occur just below the stage of the gene. Silent mutations, for instance, can alter the frequency of guanine-cytosine base pairs without changing the corresponding amino acid sequence of a gene (GC content). Such base pairs, therefore, have good thermal stability (melting point) compared to adenine-thymine, a feature that may confer a survival benefit on GC-rich variants in organisms living in high-temperature environments.


Phenome and Phenomics

Since a phenotype is an organism's set of measurable characteristics, the term phoneme is often used to apply to a collection of traits, and phenomics is the analysis of such a collection at the same time. Phenomics is a crucial area of research as it could be used to determine which genomic variants influence phenotypes, which could then be used to describe things like disease, health, and evolutionary fitness. The Human Genome Project includes phenomics as a major component.


In the agricultural industry, phenomics does have a wide range of applications. With a rapidly rising population and changing weather patterns due to global warming, cultivating enough crops to feed the world's population has now become extremely difficult. The use of phenomics to identify advantageous genomic variations, such as drought and heat resistance, could be used to produce more resilient plants.


Phenomics is also an important move toward personalised medicine, particularly drug therapy. This use of phenomics does have the highest potential for avoiding the testing of unsuccessful or dangerous drug therapies. Patient phenomic information could be used to choose particular drugs personalised to the patient until the phenomic database has accumulated further data. As phenomics control evolves, new information bases can be able to assist in realising the promise of personalised medicine and the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric syndromes.

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FAQs on Phenotype

Q1. Is the Colour of One's Hair a Phenotype or a Genotype?

Ans. A phenotype is your own interpretation of a trait. Phenotypes include things like blue vs. brown eyes and curly vs. straight hair. The genotype is the set of genes that determines your phenotype. If you have curly hair, you have two curly hair variants of the hair texture gene in your genotype: one from your mother and one from your father.

Q2. What Factors Influence the Phenotype?

Ans. The expression of an organism's genetic code, or genotype, and the effect of environmental factors are the two essential factors that determine its phenotype. Both factors can interact, influencing phenotype even more.


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