Template:POTD/2007-01-13
Individuals in the mollusk species Donax variabilis show diverse coloration and patterning in their phenotypes. The phenotype of an individual organism is either its total physical appearance and constitution or a specific manifestation of a trait, such as size, eye color, or behavior that varies between individuals. Phenotype is determined to a large extent by genotype and influenced by environmental factors. Early geneticists were able to trace inheritance patterns without any knowledge of molecular biology.Photo credit: Debivort