Recessive - GCSE Biology Definition

In genetics, a recessive trait is one that is only expressed if an individual inherits two copies of the recessive allele, one from each parent. Alleles are different versions of a gene and can be dominant or recessive. If a person inherits a dominant allele along with a recessive one, the dominant allele will mask the effect of the recessive, so the recessive trait will not be seen. For the recessive trait to appear, both alleles must be recessive. An example in humans is blue eyes, which usually only occur when a person inherits two alleles for blue eyes.