Question

Which is the most likely explanation for a child exhibiting a heritable trait that neither parent exhibits?(1 point) 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. The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele. The parents have recessive alleles, and the child inherited a dominant allele. 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. A grandparent exhibits the trait, and the child inherited it directly from that person.

Answer 1

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.

In this case, both parents could be carriers of the recessive allele (heterozygous) for the trait, even though they do not express the trait themselves. If the child inherits the recessive allele from both parents, they would then express the trait.