Responses
The trait is recessive, and the child inherited a recessive allele from each parent.
The trait is recessive, and the child inherited a recessive allele from each parent.
A mutation occurred, and the child exhibits a new trait due to the mutation.
A mutation occurred, and the child exhibits a new trait due to the mutation.
B The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele.
The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele.
C A grandparent exhibits the trait, and the child inherited it directly from that person.
1 answer
The most likely explanation for a child exhibiting a heritable trait that neither parent exhibits is:
The trait is recessive, and the child inherited a recessive allele from each parent.
This scenario is consistent with the principles of inheritance, where both parents can be carriers (heterozygous) for a recessive allele, passing it on to their child who ends up expressing the recessive trait.
