The two terms are often used at the same time to describe the same organism, but there is a difference between genotype and phenotype: An organism's genotype is the set of genes in its DNA responsible for a particular trait. An organism's phenotype is the physical expression of those genes.
| Genotype | Phenotype |
|---|---|
| The hereditary information of the organism in the form of the gene in the DNA and remains the same throughout the life. | The characters of an organism that are visible are known as phenotypes. |
| Present inside the body as genetic material. | Expression of genes as the external appearance. |
| It can be determined by scientific methods such as the polymerase chain reaction. | It can be determined by observing the organism. |
| It is affected by genes. | It is affected by genotype and environmental conditions. |
| For eg., Blood group, eye color, height, genetic diseases. | For eg., Weight, physique, beak of birds. |