Biotype

/ˈbaɪoʊtaɪp/ noun

Definition

A group of organisms that look identical but have different genetic makeups, or organisms that share the same genetic code but may look slightly different.

Etymology

From Greek 'bios' (life) + '-type' (form, kind). The term was introduced in early 20th-century genetics to describe populations defined by shared genetic material rather than visible characteristics.

Kelly Says

A biotype is like finding identical-looking twins with completely different DNA—scientists use this concept to understand that organisms can be genetically distinct even when they appear the same, which matters hugely in agriculture and disease research.

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