a phenotypic trait or disease that resembles the trait expressed by a particular genotype, but in an individual who is not a carrier of that genotype. for example, breast cancer in a hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome family member who does not carry the family’s brca1 or brca2 mutation would be considered a phenocopy. such an individual does not have the family’s cancer-related mutation and therefore, they do not have the associated cancer risk from that specific mutation.