An offspring cannot have a trait if neither of its parents have it.

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In most cases, an offspring inherits traits from its parents through the transmission of genetic material. Each parent contributes genetic information in the form of genes, and the combination of these genes determines the traits that the offspring will exhibit.

However, there are situations where a trait may not be passed on to the offspring even if neither parent possesses it. This occurs when the trait is not genetically determined but rather influenced by environmental factors or external conditions. Such traits are typically acquired during an individual's lifetime rather than being inherited through genes.

Additionally, it is important to consider that traits can be recessive or masked in individuals who possess them as heterozygotes. In such cases, even if neither parent exhibits the trait, they could still carry the gene for the trait and pass it on to their offspring. In these instances, if both parents are carriers or have the recessive gene, there is a possibility that the offspring will inherit the trait.