Which term describes the observable characteristics of an organism?

• A. Genotype
• B. Phenotype
• C. Homologous
• D. Punnett Square

Answer: (B)

Phenotype is the observable set of characteristics of an organism, such as eye color, height, or leaf shape. These traits come from the genotype—the genetic information carried in the DNA—interacting with the environment, so the same genes can produce different outcomes in different conditions. The genotype is the internal genetic makeup that provides the potential for certain traits, even if they aren’t always visible. The term homologous refers to chromosome pairs that are similar in size and gene sequence, not to observable traits. Punnett Square is a tool used to predict possible genetic combinations in offspring, not a description of an organism’s traits. So the observable characteristics are described by the phenotype.