What is the observable characteristics of an organism referred to as?

• A. DNA
• B. Genotype
• C. Characters
• D. Phenotype

Answer: (C)

The observable characteristics of an organism are referred to as the phenotype. Phenotype encompasses all the physical traits, behaviors, and biochemical properties that can be observed and measured, such as height, eye color, and the presence of certain diseases. It results from the interaction of the organism's genotype, which is the genetic makeup, with environmental factors.

The concept of phenotype is crucial because it provides the visible expression of characteristics in an organism that can be studied and analyzed, especially in fields such as genetics, ecology, and evolutionary biology. This term differentiates between the underlying genetic information and the expressed attributes that can be observed in the organism.