What defines a recessive trait?

A recessive trait is characterized by its expression only when the dominant trait is absent. In genetic terms, traits are often determined by alleles, where one allele can mask the presence of another. When an individual has two copies of the recessive allele, the recessive trait will be observed in the phenotype. However, if at least one dominant allele is present, the dominant trait will manifest instead.

This distinction highlights that recessive traits require the absence of dominant alleles to be phenotypically visible. Therefore, the identification of a recessive trait ties directly to this dependence on the presence or absence of the dominant counterpart. Understanding this concept is crucial for interpreting genetic inheritance patterns, particularly in Mendelian genetics.