What is a key characteristic of an autosomal recessive trait?

An autosomal recessive trait is characterized by the fact that it can skip generations within a family lineage. This occurs because a person must inherit two copies of the recessive allele (one from each parent) in order for the trait to be expressed. If an individual has only one copy of the recessive allele, they will be considered a carrier and will not exhibit the traits associated with the condition; thus, the trait can remain hidden for one or more generations until two carriers have offspring who inherit the recessive trait from both parents.

In contrast, traits that are expressed only in males or are always present in every generation are more indicative of autosomal dominant traits or sex-linked traits, which behave differently in terms of inheritance. Therefore, the ability for autosomal recessive traits to skip generations is a defining characteristic.