phenocopy Biol.
(ˈfiːnəʊkɒpɪ)
[ad. G. phänokopie (R. Goldschmidt 1935, in Zeitschr. für induktive Abstammungs- und Vererbungslehre LXIX. 46): see phen-, pheno- and copy n.]
An individual showing features characteristic of a genotype other than its own, but induced by a modified environment.
| 1938 R. Goldschmidt Physiol. Genetics ii. 14 The production of phenocopies in Drosophila succeeded only if the temperature shock was applied at a definite time in development, the sensitive period. 1957 Amer. Naturalist XCI. 86 The production of phenocopies succeeded more readily in organisms which were heterozygous for a recessive mutant gene with homologous morphological effects. 1971 D. J. Cove Genetics xii. 172 A wild-type organism which has been subjected to such a heat treatment may develop so that it resembles closely an organism with a particular mutation. These environmentally induced abnormal organisms are called phenocopies. |