Autosomal recessive inheritance

Autosomal recessive inheritance means a person must inherit two copies of a faulty gene—one from each parent—to be affected by a genetic condition. If they get only one faulty copy, they are a carrier and usually don’t show symptoms. For a child to have the condition, both parents must either be carriers or affected. This pattern affects both males and females equally and is common in conditions like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. Carriers typically have no health problems but can pass the gene to their children.