Abstract
The word ‘phenotype’ is a biological term and is best explained by examining the differences between the ‘phenotype’ and ‘genotype’ of living organisms…
Genotype
gen·o·type
[jen–uh-tahyp, jee-nuh-] – noun, Genetics
The “internally coded, inheritable information”
carried by all living organisms. This stored information is used as a “blueprint”
or set of instructions for building and maintaining a living creature, written in a coded language (the genetic code).
Phenotype
phe·no·type
[fee-nuh-tahyp, fen–uh-] – noun, Genetics
The “outward, physical manifestation”
of the organism. In other words, the way the end result of the instructions contained within the organism’s genotype, modified by the influence of the organism’s environment.
In English then…
To give a simple example, your genes may dictate that you will have blue eyes, grow to 180cm tall and have a strong physique.
If you grow up somewhere without adequate food then you will still probably have blue eyes, but may not grow to be so tall. Similarly, if you have an accident and lose an arm, the fact that you only have one arm is not a result of your genetic makeup, but a consequence of unfortunate circumstances.
Therefore, our phenotype is the product of our genotype and our environment and our life experiences, or, in other words, “the outward physical manifestation of internally coded, inheritable, information.”
More reads
The eclectic sounds of (many) generations – Facebook’s ‘10 albums’ challenge
Any DJ would turn grey if presented with the mix of music we like to listen to at Practically towers. Not that we think our taste would be bad - it is more the pure range (and randomness) of the music we like to listen to, and with a combined age of 304 years between...
London is where it is at?
For the creative industries the proximity of other creative industries has meant that London is absolutely the place to be for any agency or artist…
We are judging on the UK Digital Experience Awards
We have been lucky to be taking part in this year’s DXA awards, judging in the Best Website category, with criteria being very much about effectiveness.