Question

You observe that when you grow Serratia marcescens at human body temperature, the resulting bacterial colonies appear white. However, when you grow the same bacterium at room temperature, the colonies that grow are red. This difference in pigmentation is best described as a ____________.

phenotype difference

genome difference

gene difference

genotype difference

Answer 1

1. Answer: Option A is correct
Explanation:
Genotype = Genomic composition of an organism
Phenotype = Appearance (Physical/morphological/biochemical/behavioral) of an organism

In the given case, Serratia marascens exhibits white colonies (i.e. Phenotype) at human body temperature.
The same species (Serratia marascens) i.e. genotype is the same, exhibits red colonies (i.e. Phenotype) at room temperature. It is an example of phenotypic plasticity.