What does the term 'molecular phenotype' refer to?

The term 'molecular phenotype' specifically refers to the observable traits or characteristics of an organism at a molecular level, which includes the analysis of proteins or DNA. This concept encompasses how genes are expressed and how their products manifest in the biological systems, especially when visualized through techniques like genetic gels.

Molecular phenotypes provide insights into the functional outcomes of genetic variations and can be used to understand the molecular basis of diseases, as well as the relationship between genotype and phenotype.

While physical appearance relates to the overall phenotype, and the genetic makeup describes the organism’s complete set of genes (genotype), the molecular phenotype is distinct in focusing on the products of those genes and their specific expressions at a molecular scale.