An organism's observable traits are referred to as what?

The observable traits of an organism are known as the phenotype. The phenotype includes all the expressed characteristics that can be seen or measured, such as height, color, and behavior. These traits result from the interaction of the organism's genotype, which is its genetic makeup, with environmental influences.

For example, if a plant has a genotype for tall stature, it may exhibit that trait as part of its phenotype, provided it is grown in suitable conditions. Thus, the phenotype is the manifestation of the genetic information encoded in the organism's DNA, influenced by both the genes themselves and the environment.

Understanding the concept of phenotype is crucial because it reveals the outward expression of genetic traits, which can be crucial for studies in genetics, evolution, and biology in general.