The observable outcome of a genotype is the organism's:

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

Answer: (A)

The observable outcome of a genotype is the phenotype. The genotype is the organism’s genetic makeup—the specific alleles it carries in its DNA, organized into genes. The phenotype is what you can actually see or measure: traits like height, eye color, enzyme activity, and even behavior. Those traits result from how the genes are expressed to make proteins and other molecules, and this expression is influenced by development and the environment. So you can have a genotype that carries certain potential, but the phenotype is the actual expressed traits you observe. For example, a plant might have the genetic potential for tall growth, but limited nutrients can result in a shorter phenotype. DNA is the molecule that holds the genetic information, and genes are the units that code for specific traits, but the visible trait is the phenotype.