What term describes an individual who may pass on a recessive gene but is not affected?

What term describes an individual who may pass on a recessive gene but is not affected?

• A. Carrier
• B. Pedigree
• C. Heterozygous
• D. Autosomal

Answer: (A)

This question tests carrier status in genetics. A carrier is an individual who has one copy of a recessive allele for a trait but does not show the trait themselves because the dominant allele masks it. For recessive conditions, two copies of the recessive allele are needed to express the disease, so a person with one recessive allele can be unaffected yet still pass that allele to offspring, potentially producing affected children if the other parent also carries the recessive allele. The term captures both the lack of symptoms and the potential to transmit the recessive gene. Pedigree refers to a family history chart, not an individual’s carrier state. Heterozygous describes having two different alleles at a gene locus and can indicate carrier status but is a broader genotype term. Autosomal refers to a chromosome type, not the individual's carrier status.

This question tests carrier status in genetics. A carrier is an individual who has one copy of a recessive allele for a trait but does not show the trait themselves because the dominant allele masks it. For recessive conditions, two copies of the recessive allele are needed to express the disease, so a person with one recessive allele can be unaffected yet still pass that allele to offspring, potentially producing affected children if the other parent also carries the recessive allele. The term captures both the lack of symptoms and the potential to transmit the recessive gene. Pedigree refers to a family history chart, not an individual’s carrier state. Heterozygous describes having two different alleles at a gene locus and can indicate carrier status but is a broader genotype term. Autosomal refers to a chromosome type, not the individual's carrier status.