Define the following terms a. Character b. Trait c. Genotype and Phenotype d. True breed and Pure breed

Question

Define the following terms

a. Character

b. Trait

c. Genotype and Phenotype

d. True breed and Pure breed

Answer

a.    Character

Characters are the fundamental units used to formalize hypotheses of homology for all phylogenetic analyses, meaning that the decision about how observations are translated into characters is of paramount importance in systematics.

b.      Trait

A trait is a distinct variant of a character of an organism. Hence, it can be identified as a character state. A particular trait of an organism is inherited from the parents and its expression is determined under the influence of the environment. A trait can be either observable or measurable. Each trait occurs in combination with another trait of the character. But, only one trait of the pair is expressed and it is called the dominant trait. Meanwhile, the unexpressed trait is called the recessive trait.

c.       Genotype and Phenotype

Genotype 

Genotype is the genetic makeup of an individual cell or organism that determines or contributes to its phenotype. The contrasting terms genotype and phenotype are used to define the characteristics or traits of an organism. The genotype identifies the alleles related to a single trait (e.g. Aa), or to a number of traits (e.g. Aa Bb cc).  

Phenotype 

Phenotype refers to the observable characteristics of an organism as a multifactorial consequence of genetic traits and environmental influences. The organism's phenotype includes its morphological, biochemical, physiological, and behavioral properties.

d.      True breed and Pure breed

True breed

True breeding is a kind of breeding wherein the parents would produce offspring that would carry the same phenotype. This means that the parents are homozygous for every trait. 

Pure breed

A purebred refers to offspring resulting from true breeding. True breeding is a way to produce offspring that would carry the same phenotype as the parents. Thus, a purebred would result when the parents are homozygous for certain traits.