Recessive
An allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present
Recessive is a term used in genetics to describe a gene that is masked by the presence of a dominant gene. In a pair of genes that control a specific trait, such as eye color or height, the recessive gene will only be expressed if both copies of the gene are recessive.
For example, if a person has one copy of the gene for brown eyes (dominant) and one copy of the gene for blue eyes (recessive), their eye color will be brown because the dominant gene masks the expression of the recessive gene for blue eyes.
In order for a recessive gene to be expressed, it must be inherited from both parents. If only one parent carries the recessive gene and the other parent has two copies of the dominant gene, then the offspring will have a 50% chance of inheriting the recessive gene and expressing the trait.
Some common recessive genetic disorders include sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and Tay-Sachs disease. Understanding the concept of recessive genes and inheritance patterns is essential in genetic counseling and predicting the likelihood of certain traits and disorders being passed down through generations.
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