What term describes the visible characteristics of an organism as determined by its genes?

Prepare for the SQA National 5 Biology Exam. Utilize multiple choice questions and flashcards, each offering hints and explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

The term that describes the visible characteristics of an organism as determined by its genes is phenotype. The phenotype encompasses all observable traits, which can include things such as appearance, behavior, and physiological properties. It results from the interaction of the organism's genotype, which is the set of genes it carries, with the environment.

A genotype refers specifically to the genetic makeup of an organism, while a phenotype is the expression of that genetic makeup through physical attributes. Alleles are variants of a gene that can produce different traits, and chromosomes are structures within cells that contain genes. Therefore, while all these terms relate to genetics, phenotype is specifically focused on the observable traits resulting from genetic information.

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