Autosomal Recessive Trait

An autosomal recessive trait is carried by a recessive gene. This means that to manifest this trait, a person needs to have inherited two copies of this recessive gene. This happens when both parents possess the recessive gene (that is masked by a dominant gene). Even when both parents carry this recessive gene, there is only a 25% chance of these two recessive gene pairing up.

For instance, blond hair is a recessive gene. Therefore it is possible for two brown-haired parents to have a blond-haired child if both parents carry a recessive blond gene.