Recessive Allele
An allele that is hidden whenever a dominant allele is present
A recessive allele is a variant form of a gene that does not produce a noticeable effect in an individual unless it is paired with another copy of the same allele, meaning the two alleles are homozygous recessive. In other words, a recessive allele is only expressed when an individual carries two copies of that allele. If an individual carries only one copy of the recessive allele and one copy of the dominant allele, they will not express the recessive trait but will be a carrier of the recessive allele.
For example, in humans, the allele for brown eyes is dominant over the allele for blue eyes. Therefore, if someone inherits a copy of the brown eye allele from either parent, they will have brown eyes. However, if someone inherits two copies of the blue eye allele, they will have blue eyes. The blue eye allele is recessive because it is only expressed when there are two copies present.
Recessive alleles are important in genetics and inheritance because they can be passed down from parents to their offspring without being expressed in every generation. This means that individuals can be carriers of a recessive trait without actually showing it, and can pass it on to their children who may or may not express it depending on their genotype.
More Answers:
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Genotype: The Blueprint of an Organism’s Traits and Survival