What are the differences between genotype and phenotypes?

Basis of differentiation 

Genotype 

Phenotype 

Definition 

Is a set of genes in DNA that’s responsible for an organism’s unique characteristics or traits

Is the observable physical traits of an organism, such as height, hair texture, or eye color 

What it consists of

Consists of an organism’s hereditary characteristics which may or may not be expressed in the next generation

Consists of different characteristics such as structure and physical features, biological and physiological properties

What it is affected by

Is affected by the individual’s genetic composition, which is affected by sexual reproduction

Is affected by the individual’s genotype and environmental conditions

Relation

The same genotype always produces the same phenotype, unless heritable mutations occur

The same phenotype does not necessarily belong to the same genotype

Impact of environmental factors

Is not affected by environmental factors

Is affected by environmental factors

Inherited

Is partly inherited from a parent to the offspring as one of the two alleles during sexual reproduction

Is not inherited from the parent

Changes

Remains the same and does not change throughout the individual’s lifetime

May change during an individual’s lifetime such as changes in hair texture 

Determined by

Can be determined by various scientific techniques such as DNA sequencing and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Can be easily determined just by observing the organism 

Examples

• Homozygous dominant (PP)
• Heterozygous (Pp)
• Homozygous recessive (pp)

• Eye color
• Hair texture
• Beak shape in birds
• Leaf color in plants