Biology Forums - Study Force

please answer this ASAP!!!!can you alter your genotype or phenotype at all?

uhh no, thats your DNA its possible through mutations though.

It's not possible at all!

Your genotype is what determines your phenotype. At fertilization, the male sperm determines the sex of the child. If your genotype for your gender is XX, you are a female. If your genotype for your gender is XY, you are a male.

You can never change your phenotype.

Genotype is ur genes u cant manipulate genes. phenotype is physical characteristics plastic surgery is the only possible solution that i know of to change physical traits such as nose eyes and other areas.

Your genotype is the genetic code that "says" what genes you have for a trait (some specific way your body is). Briefly, there are recessive and dominant alleles for traits. You get two alleles for every trait. YOUR PHENOTYPE IS WHAT IS ACTUALLY EXPRESSED. So, you HAVE two alleles, either one can be either recessive or dominant, and the result of these two competing to be expressed (as the genotype) IS your genotype. Dominant alleles always get expressed over recessive alleles.

SO, the two things you are asking about are what your body says you should look like, and what you actually look like. Scientifically, you can change neither. You cannot change your genes (phenotype) and therefor you cannot change the way the genes are expressed (genotype). HOWEVER, we all know it IS possible to change the way you look. So, if your genotype is for "blue eyes" you cannot change that genotype, what is expressed, but you CAN "change" your eye color (contacts). This does not actually change either your geno or pheno types, and no kind of either can be changed (like skin color, length of fingers, or ability to curl your tongue). But it is possible to change your appearance.