Recessiveness

Recessiveness refers to a genetic trait that is only expressed when an individual inherits two copies of the gene carrying that trait—one from each parent. If only one copy is present, the dominant gene's trait will usually be visible, and the recessive trait remains hidden. For example, in eye color, brown is often dominant over blue; a person needs two blue-eye genes to have blue eyes. Recessiveness helps explain how some traits can be carried silently and only appear under specific genetic circumstances.