What is phenocopia?

phenocopia is a feature found in the body that evolves as a result of environmental factors, which is approaching identical or similar properties in another organism in which this property is present for genetic factors. The word is also used to describe properties that are the result of environmental factors that are not found in other individuals of the same kind. Phenocopy is therefore part of the phenotype of the organism, which consists of its entire observable set of properties. The genotype of the organism is its entire genetic code contained in its DNA and includes all possible properties and properties, not only those expressed in the individual.

The study of evolution and the development of species is closely linked to genetics and inheritance. Recognition of specific properties in the body as phenocopia, unlike inherited properties that is coded in its genotype, it is important if they try to classify organisms or monitor their development over time. Often phenocopas are wrong behind GeneTical feature, leading to confusion in classification or identification.

A human being whose hair has become lighter in the shade due to long -term exposure to bright sunlight, unlike another, whose hair is naturally this color, is one of the examples of the difference between phenocopia and the genetic characteristic. Another example is an animal whose coat changes color with temperature changes. For example, on snowshoes, they have a coat that stares during the winter, but during the summer they return to spotted brown and gray shades. Examples of phenocopia are most often observed in the appearance of the body, but can also be exposed to the organism's behavior.

Another way to define phenocopy is the ability to pass the properties to the descendants of the body. For example, descendants on snowshoes would retain their gray -brown color if the net exposed to winter conditions. White coloring is not inherited, but is influenced by the animal environment. VeliThe bone is another example of the expression of phenocopia. An animal that lives in a food -rich environment can grow to the size limits for its species, while its descendants may not achieve a similar size in an environment where food is rare.