Which term refers to a change in the genetic material that leads to different traits in an organism?

The term that refers to a change in the genetic material, resulting in different traits in an organism, is mutation. Mutations are alterations in the DNA sequence of an organism’s genome. These changes can occur due to various factors, including environmental influences or errors during DNA replication. Depending on the nature of the mutation, it can lead to changes in physical characteristics, behavior, or biological functions of an organism, thereby causing variations among individuals within a species.

In contrast, a genetic disorder refers to a specific malfunction that occurs as a result of mutations or abnormalities in an individual's genes, often leading to specific health conditions. Phenotype, on the other hand, describes the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism as determined by a combination of its genetic makeup and environmental influences. A carrier is an individual who possesses a recessive allele for a genetic trait or disorder but does not exhibit the trait themselves; carriers can pass on the allele to their offspring. These terms provide context, but mutation specifically denotes the change in genetic material that is fundamental to the variation of traits in organisms.