recessive

recessive definition - medical

re·ces·sive (rĭ-sĕsˈĭv)

adjective
  1. Tending to go backward or recede.
  2. Of, relating to, or being an allele that does not produce a characteristic effect when present with a dominant allele.
  3. Of, relating to, or being a trait expressed only when the determining allele is present in the homozygous condition.
noun
  1. A recessive allele or trait.
  2. An organism having a recessive trait.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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