Definition
The term phenotype refers to an organism’s outward appearance and characteristics. This contrasts with the individual’s genotype, the set of alleles that an offspring inherits from both parents. In the behavioral sciences, including Behavioral Medicine, the fundamental issue of heredity is the extent to which differences in genotype account for differences in phenotype, i.e., observed differences among individuals (Plomin, DeFries, McClearn, & Rutter, 1997).
In contrast to single-gene disorders such as Huntington’s disease and phenylketonuria (PKU), complex dimensions, disorders, and conditions of clinical concern in Behavioral Medicine are influenced by heredity, but not by one gene alone. Multiple genes are typically involved, and so too are multiple environmental influences, and phenotypes are often the result of the combined effects of both genotype and environmental factors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References and Readings
Plomin, R., DeFries, J. C., McClearn, G. E., & Rutter, M. (1997). Behavioral genetics (3rd ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
McCarthy, J. (2013). Phenotype. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_713
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_713
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1004-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1005-9
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine