phenotype

Term: phenotype

Literally meaning: “visible type”

Origin: Anc Greek

φαίνω/pheno(=appear, shine, present, show)

+τύπος/typos(=type, shape, appearance) > τύπτω/typto(=hit, stamp)

Coined/History

In 1905 by the Danish botanist Wilhelm Johannsen 1857-1927) who also created the terms of “genotype” and “gene”.

Definition

Phenotype is defined as the visible characteristics of an organism such as morphology, shape, color, biochemical or physiological properties and behaviour which are resulting from the interaction between the environment and genetic constitution.