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ShareIn biology, a trait or character is a feature of an organism.
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The term phenotype is sometimes used as a synonym for trait in common use, but strictly speaking, does not indicate the trait, but the state of that trait (e.g., the trait eye color has the phenotypes blue, brown and hazel).
A trait may be any single feature or quantifiable measurement of an organism.
However, the most useful traits for genetic analysis are present in different forms in different individuals. A visible trait is the final product of many molecular and biochemical processes.
In most cases, information starts with DNA traveling to RNA and finally to protein (ultimately affecting organism structure and function).
This information flow may also be followed through the cell as it travels from the DNA in the nucleus, to the Cytoplasm, to the Ribosomes and the Endoplasmic Reticulum, and finally to the Golgi Apparatus, which may package the final products for export outside the cell. Cell products are released into the tissue, and organs of an organism, to finally affect the physiology in a way that produces a trait.
For more information about the topic Trait (biology), read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Genetics — Genetics is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. Humans applied knowledge of genetics in prehistory with the domestication ... > read more
Introduction to genetics — Genetics is the study of how living things receive common traits from previous generations. These traits are described by the genetic information ... > read more
Organelle — In cell biology, an organelle is one of several structures with specialized functions, suspended in the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell. Eukaryotes ... > read more
Heritability — In genetics, heritability is the proportion of phenotypic variation in a population that is due to genetic variation. Variation among individuals may ... > read more
Sex linkage — Sex linkage is the phenotypic expression of an allele that is dependent on the gender of the individual and is directly tied to the sex chromosomes. ... > read more
R/K selection theory in ecology — In ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of traits (in organisms) that allow success in particular environments. In unstable or ... > read more
Plant cell — There are three major classes of plant cells that can then differentiate to form the tissue structures of roots, stems, and leaves. (The three ... > read moreEditor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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