Recessive genes and alleles are traits that are hidden when there is a dominant trait inherited. In order for a recessive trait to be shown, there must be two recessive alleles. If it is half-and half, dominant and recessive, then the dominant trait will be shown. Although the recessive trait is hidden it is still inherited inside the body. This means that a parent who has the dominant trait showing might pass on the recessive trait to their offspring. For example, a parent with brown eyes, a dominant trait, might pass on the recessive allele for blue eyes. The blue eye allele was hidden because there was a brown eye dominant allele inherited. This means the offspring has a chance to have blue eyes while the parent has brown eyes. This is what happens when people say the trait "skipped a generation".
An example of a recessive trait is blue eyes. Blue eyes are uncommon or less common than a dominant trait, brown eyes. Recessive genes can be split into more specific alleles such as left handedness, attached earlobes, or straight hairline alleles are all types of recessive traits. We consider things that are less common in society to be recessive.
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