The roles of genes in determining the phenotype

Need to know

What you need to know

• Genes provide instructions for making proteins, which are the fundamental building blocks and functional molecules of an organism.
• The type and activity of proteins determine an organism's observable traits or phenotype.
• Many traits, such as height, weight, and skin colour, are influenced by a complex interplay between genes and environmental factors.
• Environmental factors can modify gene expression or the direct manifestation of a trait, leading to phenotypic plasticity.

Explanation

The roles of genes in determining the phenotype

1. Genes provide instructions for making proteins, which are the fundamental building blocks and functional molecules of an organism.
2. The type and activity of proteins determine an organism's observable traits or phenotype.
3. Many traits, such as height, weight, and skin colour, are influenced by a complex interplay between genes and environmental factors.
4. Environmental factors can modify gene expression or the direct manifestation of a trait, leading to phenotypic plasticity.