The Epigenotype

The adult characteristics of animals, i.e. their phenotypes, must be studied in order to reach conclusions about the genotypes, i.e. the hereditary constitutions which form the basic subject-matter of genetics. But between genotype and phenotype lies a whole complex of development processes, for which Dr Waddington proposes the name ‘epigenotype.’ He here describes some of the general characteristics of an epigenotype, with special reference to the fruit-fly Drosophila melanogaster.