Which term describes observable physical traits?

Which term describes observable physical traits?

• A. Genotype
• B. Autosome
• C. Phenotype
• D. Alleles

Answer: (C)

Observable physical traits are described by the phenotype—the outward expression of an individual’s genetic makeup as shaped by the environment. The genotype is the specific set of alleles someone carries, which provides the blueprint for traits. Autosomes are simply chromosome types, and alleles are the different forms of a gene; neither alone describes the visible trait as directly as the phenotype does. So the term that best describes what you can observe is phenotype.

Observable physical traits are described by the phenotype—the outward expression of an individual’s genetic makeup as shaped by the environment. The genotype is the specific set of alleles someone carries, which provides the blueprint for traits. Autosomes are simply chromosome types, and alleles are the different forms of a gene; neither alone describes the visible trait as directly as the phenotype does. So the term that best describes what you can observe is phenotype.