Question

Is it possible that a trait gets inherited, but not expressed? Give an example to justify your answer.

Answer 1

Step 1: Inheritance vs Expression of Traits
Yes, it is possible for a trait to be inherited but not expressed. This occurs when the gene for the trait is present in the organism’s genotype but is not visible in its phenotype (the physical expression of the trait). This is often due to the dominance or recessiveness of the alleles involved.

Step 2: Example to justify the answer
A classic example of this is the inheritance of a recessive genetic disorder, such as sickle cell anemia. The gene for sickle cell anemia is inherited as a recessive allele, meaning that an individual must inherit two copies of the sickle cell allele (one from each parent) for the disorder to be expressed.
- If an individual inherits one normal allele (dominant) and one sickle cell allele (recessive), the normal allele will dominate, and the individual will not show symptoms of sickle cell anemia. However, they are still a carrier of the sickle cell trait, which they can pass on to their offspring.

Step 3: Conclusion
This phenomenon shows that a trait can be inherited (through the presence of a recessive allele), but it may not be expressed in the phenotype unless both copies of the recessive allele are inherited.