autosomal inheritance

Autosomal inheritance refers to how genes located on the autosomes (chromosomes 1-22), which are not involved in determining sex, are passed from parents to children. Each person inherits two copies of each gene—one from the mother and one from the father. Depending on whether the gene is dominant or recessive, traits or conditions can be expressed. For example, if a dominant gene for a trait is present in one copy, that trait will usually appear. Recessive traits require two copies of the gene (one from each parent) to be expressed. This inheritance pattern applies equally to males and females.