In biology there are two distinct terms that must not be confused. These are: GENOTYPE and PHENOTYPE. The difference lies in genes, which are inherited, and developmental outcomes from those genes, which are not inherited.
Genotype
1. Applied to two organisms that share the same genes.
2. Genotype describes the complete set of genes inherited by an individual.
3. Thus, when one talks about DNA that sets up (i.e., codes) for eye-color,
then they are referring to an organism's genotype.
Phenotype
1. Applied when these two look or function alike.
2. Describes all aspects of the individual’s morphology, physiology,
behavior, and ecological relationships.
3. Thus, when one talks about some description of an organism (like
its eye-color) , then they are referring to its phenotype.
Now to get really confusing.
1. A single genotype may produce different phenotypes depending
on the enviorment in which the organism developes.
2. The same phenotype expressed among organisms may be produced by different genotypes, depending on the enviornment