How come alligators and crocodiles can’t make viable offspring? Isn’t the only difference between the two the snout?
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In genetics there are concepts of genotype and phenotype.
**Phenotype** refers to how creatures *look* – on the basis of the instructions contained in their genetics. The expression of their genes.
**Genotype** refers to what the actual genetic information (DNA) contains. The code or blueprint for the animal if you will.
The alligator and crocodile are *phenotypically* very similar – they look like the same thing with a few minor differences.
*Genotypically*, they are too different to interbreed. That is to say their genetic code is too distinct from each other, or is organized in incompatible ways.
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