How do environmental factors affect gene expression?

Environmental factors influence gene expression primarily by triggering changes in phenotypic traits. This is an important aspect of phenotypic plasticity, where an organism can adapt its traits in response to different environmental conditions without altering its genetic code.

For example, conditions such as temperature, light, and nutrition can lead to changes in how genes are expressed, resulting in variations in traits like color, size, or behavior among individuals of the same species. These changes occur through mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications, where chemical changes affect how genes are regulated, rather than changing the underlying DNA sequence itself.

This adaptability allows organisms to survive and thrive in diverse environments, highlighting the dynamic interplay between genetics and environmental influences in the expression of traits.