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Although the phrases genotype and phenotype may sound similar, there is a significant distinction between the two. The genotype is a group of genes in DNA that are responsible for a specific trait or feature, whereas the phenotype is an organism’s outward appearance or characteristic.
Genotypes :
A gene is a segment of DNA that encodes a trait in biology. The exact arrangement of nucleotides (each consisting of a phosphate group, sugar, and base) in a gene can vary between copies of the same gene. As a result, a gene might exist in several forms in different organisms. Alleles are the names for these many types. A locus is the precise fixed location on the chromosome where a specific gene is found.
A diploid organism inherits from its parents either two copies of the same allele or one copy of two different alleles. A person’s genotype is considered to be homozygous at a locus if they inherit two identical alleles.
Their genotype is classified as heterozygous for that locus if they have two distinct alleles. Autosomal dominant or recessive alleles of the same gene exist. An autosomal dominant allele will always outnumber a recessive allele in terms of expression.
A person’s genotype is the result of the combination of alleles they have for a certain gene.
Examples of Genotype :
Consider the basic example of eye colour.
Eye colour is determined by a gene.
The allele is either brown or blue in this case, with one inherited from the mother and the other from the father.
The dominant allele (B) is brown, while the recessive allele (B) is blue (b). Brown eyes are the result of a child inheriting two distinct alleles (heterozygous). The child must be homozygous for the blue eye allele to have blue eyes.
Phenotype :
These are the ones who are in charge of the organism’s visible traits. The main distinction between phenotype and genotype is that genotype is inherited from both parents, whereas phenotype is not. A phenotype is also influenced by the genotype as well as a variety of other factors such as epigenetic alterations, environmental influences, and lifestyle factors. Nutrition, temperature, humidity, and stress are among environmental factors that influence the phenotypic. Flamingos are a good example of how the environment has an impact on phenotypic. They are known for their brilliant pink hue, however their normal colour is white, and the pink colour is generated by pigments in their diet.
Our genes have the ability to regulate the amount and type of melanin we make. However, exposure to UV light in sunny climates causes existing melanin to darken, resulting in darker skin.
Examples of Phenotype :
Nutrition, temperature, humidity, and stress are all factors that might affect the phenotypic. Flamingos are a great example of how the environment can affect phenotypic. While they are well-known for their brilliant pink colour, their normal colour is white; the pink colour is generated by pigments in the creatures they eat.
Another example is a person’s skin colour. Our genes determine the amount and kind of melanin we make; nevertheless, in sunny climes, UV light causes existing melanin to darken and encourages additional melanogenesis, resulting in darker skin.
Difference between Phenotype and Genotype :
Importance of Genotype vs Phenotype :
Understanding the link between genotype and phenotype can help researchers in a range of fields.
Pharmacogenomics is a very fascinating field. Genetic differences in liver enzymes involved in drug metabolism, such as CYP450, can arise. As a result, an individual’s phenotype, or capacity to metabolise a particular drug, can differ depending on which variant of the enzyme-encoding gene they have. This knowledge is critical for pharmaceutical corporations and clinicians when calculating appropriate prescription dosages across populations.
Combining genotyping with phenotyping procedures appears to be more effective than utilising genotype tests alone. A multiplexing technique identified more disparities in drug metabolic capability than was predicted by genotyping alone in a comparative clinical pharmacogenomics investigation.This has significant implications for customised therapy and emphasises the importance of exercising caution when depending solely on genotyping.
Conclusion :
The most common modern definition of genotype is a piece of DNA passed down to an organism from its parents. The phenotype refers to an organism’s physical and behavioural characteristics, such as size and shape, metabolic processes, and movement patterns. The distinction is particularly relevant in evolutionary theory, where organisms’ survival and mating are dependent on their traits, but it is the DNA, which is thought to be unaffected by trait growth over the life course, that is passed on to the next generation.
