Question

________ refers to a person’s genetic makeup,while ________ refers to a person’s physical characteristics. a. Phenotype; genotype b. Genotype; phenotype c. DNA; gene d. Gene; DNA

Short answer

b. Genotype; phenotype

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the terms

Understanding the terms is the crucial first step in this exercise. A person's genetic makeup is referred as 'Genotype', which includes the complete heritable genetic identity. On the other hand, a person's physical characteristics, which are observable characteristics or traits, are referred as 'Phenotype'.

Matching the terms to the question

The question refers to a person’s genetic makeup first and then to a person’s physical characteristics. With the definitions from Step 1 in mind, it's clear that the term for a person's genetic makeup is 'Genotype' and the term for a person's physical characteristics is 'Phenotype'.

Select the correct option

The correct option is the one which matches 'Genotype' to a person’s genetic makeup and 'Phenotype' to a person’s physical characteristics. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Genotype; Phenotype'.

Key concepts

Genetic Makeup

Understanding the concept of genetic makeup is essential to grasp how living organisms inherit traits and pass them to the next generation. Genetic makeup refers to the unique set of genes that an individual possesses, inherited from their parents. This collection of genes is known as the genotype.

• The genotype acts as a blueprint for the organism's potential characteristics, although not all these characteristics are necessarily expressed physically in an individual.
• Genes, which are segments of DNA located on chromosomes, carry the instructions for building and maintaining the organism.
• Variations in these genes among individuals lead to diversity in genetic makeup.

In essence, the genotype serves as the underlying set of instructions that determine the potential traits an individual may exhibit.

Physical Characteristics

Physical characteristics, often referred to as an individual's phenotype, are the observable traits or features of a person. While the genotype provides the genetic potential, the phenotype is the visible result of both genetics and environmental influences.

• These characteristics can include aspects like height, eye color, hair type, and skin tone.
• The expression of these traits is influenced by the organism’s environment. For example, nutrition can affect height, while sunlight can influence skin tone.
• The interaction between genotype and environmental factors determines the overall phenotype.

Thus, while the genetic makeup provides the possibilities, the phenotype shows what is actually expressed physically.

Observable Traits

Observable traits are those aspects of an organism that can be seen and measured, and they directly relate to the phenotype. These traits can generally be categorized based on whether they are qualitative or quantitative.

• Qualitative traits are those that are usually controlled by a single gene. Examples include the presence or absence of freckles or flower color in plants.
• Quantitative traits are typically influenced by multiple genes and can vary among individuals. These include traits like height, weight, or blood pressure.

Understanding observable traits helps in studying inheritance patterns, predicting potential genetic outcomes, and comprehending how certain diseases might manifest based on one's phenotype.