Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Phenotype:
An organism distinguishable from others by observable features.
[How your plant looks is the phenotype. It is the summary of all the
features you can see on the outside of your plant. It can also be smell
and taste.]
Genotype:
The genetic constitution of an individual, esp. as distinguished from
the phenotype; the whole of the genes in an individual or group.
[How your plant looks like inside, which features it can possibly
inherit - you can't see those - is called the genotype. It is the summary
of all genetic information which your plant carries and can inherit to
its offspring.]
Dominant:
Of a gene or allele: expressed even when inherited from only one
parent. Of a hereditary trait: controlled by such a gene; appearing in
an individual to the exclusion of its allelic counterpart, when alleles
for both are present.
[A gene is said to be dominant when its effect can be seen in the
phenotype of your plant. Only one dominant allele in the gene pair
must be present to be seen in the phenotype of your plant].
Recessive:
Of a gene, allele, or hereditary trait: perceptibly expressed only in
homozygotes, being masked in heterozygotes by a dominant allele or
