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If a biologist is describing the physical and visible expressions of a genetic trait, which of the following is he referring to?

A phenotype
B. allele
C. gamete
D. genotypes

User AbrahamB
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Final answer:

The observable traits expressed by an organism are referred to as its phenotype, while its underlying genetic makeup is called its genotype.

Step-by-step explanation:

The observable traits expressed by an organism are referred to as its phenotype. An organism's underlying genetic makeup, consisting of both physically visible and non-expressed alleles, is called its genotype.

Mendel's hybridization experiments demonstrate the difference between phenotype and genotype. For example, when true-breeding plants in which one parent had yellow pods and one had green pods were cross-fertilized, all of the F₁ hybrid offspring had yellow pods. This means that although the hybrid offspring were phenotypically identical to the true-breeding parent with yellow pods, their genotypes were different.

User Mwotton
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