What is the physical presentation of an organism's genes called?

The physical presentation of an organism's genes is referred to as the phenotype. The phenotype encompasses the observable characteristics and traits of an organism, such as physical appearance, behavior, and physiological features. These traits arise from the interaction of the organism's genetic makeup (genotype) with environmental factors. For example, a plant's height, flower color, and leaf shape are all aspects of its phenotype that are influenced by its genetic information as well as environmental conditions like soil quality and light availability.

Understanding the distinction between phenotype and genotype is essential. While genotype refers to the specific set of genes an organism carries, phenotype is the expression of those genes. Alleles represent the different variants of a particular gene that can exist, and chromosomes are the structures within cells that contain genes. Thus, while alleles and chromosomes are important components of genetics, they do not refer to the physical traits themselves.