Which term describes an organism's physical appearance?

Which term describes an organism's physical appearance?

• A. The organism's genetic makeup, or allele combinations
• B. The location of a gene on a chromosome
• C. The organism's physical appearance, or visible traits
• D. The process of DNA replication

Answer: (C)

In biology, the physical appearance of an organism is its phenotype. The phenotype encompasses the observable traits, such as size, color, and shape, and results from how the organism’s genes (genotype) interact with the environment. The genotype is the genetic makeup—the specific alleles an organism carries. The location of a gene on a chromosome refers to its locus, which is about where a gene sits on the chromosome, not how it looks. DNA replication is the process by which a cell copies its DNA before division, unrelated to outward appearance. Since the question asks for the term describing physical appearance, phenotype is the correct concept.

In biology, the physical appearance of an organism is its phenotype. The phenotype encompasses the observable traits, such as size, color, and shape, and results from how the organism’s genes (genotype) interact with the environment. The genotype is the genetic makeup—the specific alleles an organism carries. The location of a gene on a chromosome refers to its locus, which is about where a gene sits on the chromosome, not how it looks. DNA replication is the process by which a cell copies its DNA before division, unrelated to outward appearance. Since the question asks for the term describing physical appearance, phenotype is the correct concept.