fænotyper

Fænotyper, or phenotypes, are the observable characteristics of an organism that arise from the interaction of its genotype with the environment. The term covers physical form, internal structures, biochemical properties, and behavior. Examples include leaf shape, fur color, enzyme activity, and stress responses.

They are distinguished from the genotype, the organism's genetic makeup encoded in DNA. The phenotype expresses genetic potential through gene expression and development but is shaped by environmental conditions and random factors. As a result, the same genotype can yield different phenotypes under different environments.

Phenotypes can be qualitative (present or absent) or quantitative (measurable like height or enzyme level). Many traits are polygenic and influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, a pattern known as multifactorial inheritance. Phenotypic plasticity refers to a single genotype producing different phenotypes in different environments.

In research, phenotypes are studied by phenotyping and linked to genotypes. Methods include measurements, imaging, biochemical assays, and statistical genetics approaches such as Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Understanding phenotypes is important in medicine, agriculture, and ecology, for diagnosis, breeding, and studying adaptation.

The study of fænotyper sits at the intersection of biology, genetics, and developmental science, helping explain how organisms respond to their surroundings and how trait variation arises in populations.