The phenotype is the expression of the genetic constitution and its interaction with the environment
Your phenotype is every observable characteristic you have — like eye colour or height. It comes from your genes working together with your environment.
Real World
Himalayan rabbits carry the same genotype for fur colour, but fur on their cooler extremities (ears, nose, paws) turns black while warmer body fur stays white — demonstrating that temperature, an environmental factor, directly shapes the phenotype.
Exam Focus
Always state phenotype results from genotype AND environment — omitting either loses marks on definition questions.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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