Science Common Sense

1021 - What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

Imagine you have a plant.

The genotype is the plant's DNA, like its secret set of instructions that say what characteristics the plant should have. This includes things like the color of its leaves, how tall it should be, or what shape its flowers should be.

The phenotype is what you can actually see or measure about the plant, like its real leaf color, height, or flower shape. It's like the final product of the plant's genotype instructions.

Think of it like a recipe: the genotype is the recipe, and the phenotype is the cake you make from following the recipe.