Even though a person may have the gene for blue eyes in her chromosomes,it is possible that she may actually have brown eyes because the gene for blue eyes is recessive.Instances like these most clearly demonstrate the distinction between:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of the distinction between genotype (which includes the genes a person has) and phenotype (which refers to the physical or observable characteristics that result from those genes). The person's genotype includes both the dominant brown eye gene and the recessive blue eye gene, but because brown is dominant, it is expressed in the person's phenotype as brown eyes, rather than blue eyes. The question does not address the difference between chromosomes and genes, or between chromosomes and genotype.

Even Though a Person May Have the Gene for Blue