Final answer:
The term 'genotype' actually refers to the genetic composition of an organism, while 'phenotype' refers to the observable characteristics. The statement is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement given is false. The correct definitions of genotype and phenotype are opposite to what has been described in the question. Genotype refers to the genetic makeup or the combination of alleles that an individual has for a certain gene. This includes all the genes passed down from the parents to an offspring. For example, the genotype is represented by letter combinations, such as AA, Aa, or aa. On the other hand, phenotype is the set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism, such as hair color, skin color, and height.
Mendel's experiments with pea plants are a classic example of the difference between genotype and phenotype. He demonstrated that even though all the F1 hybrid offspring had yellow seeds (phenotype), their genotypes contained alleles for both yellow and green seeds because the green seed phenotype reappeared in some of the F2 offspring.