Question

What is a genotype?

Answer 1

Genotype indicates genetic constitution with respect to one or more traits

Explanation:

Genotype indicates the genetic constitution, whereas phenotype indicates externally observed appearance with respect to one or more traits.

Let us understand this by taking a specific example of pea plant ( Pisum sativum ).

We may select 10 tall pea plants which appear tall on observation. All these plants are phenotypically similar , i.e. these have same phenotype.

However, all these plants may not be genotypically different , though looking similar on external observation.

Some of these plants may have genotype TT (homozygous ) or Tt (heterozygous) . These tall plants may be called pure tall or impure tall.

On selfing homozygous tall plants will produce only tall offsprings , whereas heterozyous tall plants will produce both tall and dwarf plants.