recessive — (genetics) relating to or denoting heritable characteristics controlled by genes that are expressed in offspring only when inherited from both parents
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: (genetics) relating to or denoting heritable characteristics controlled by genes that are expressed in offspring only when inherited from both parents
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈsesɪv/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's green eyes skipped my mother's generation but appeared in mine due to recessive genes.
- Tom's recessive personality makes him the perfect spy - nobody notices him at parties.
- The recessive trait for albinism requires both parents to carry the gene.
recessive
ADJECTIVE[/rɪˈsesɪv/]
(genetics) relating to or denoting heritable characteristics controlled by genes that are expressed in offspring only when inherited from both parents
Blue eyes appear in the child because the recessive gene from both parents finally combined.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin 'recedere', meaning 'to go back' or 'to withdraw'. The term evolved in late 19th-century genetics to describe hereditary traits that remain hidden and appear only under specific conditions, such as when inherited from both parents.
Breakdown
re- (back) + cedere (to go, to withdraw) + -ive (adjective suffix), forming 'recessive' to denote traits that recede or withdraw from expression in the presence of dominant alleles.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's green eyes skipped my mother's generation but appeared in mine due to recessive genes.”
“Tom's recessive personality makes him the perfect spy - nobody notices him at parties.”
“The recessive trait for albinism requires both parents to carry the gene.”
“His recessive hairline started becoming dominant around age 30.”
📚Related Words
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