1. The problem asks: What is the term for the physical appearance of a character in genetics? 2. Important definitions: - An allele is a variant form of a gene. - The phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism. - A trait is a specific characteristic of an organism. - A gene is a unit of heredity. - The genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism. 3. Since the question asks for the physical appearance, the correct term is the phenotype. 4. Therefore, the answer is option 2: the phenotype.