What term describes a person whose genotype includes a gene that is not expressed in the phenotype?

What term describes a person whose genotype includes a gene that is not expressed in the phenotype?

• A. Carrier
• B. Homozygous
• C. Phenotype
• D. Genotype

Answer: (A)

The term that describes a person whose genotype includes a gene that is not expressed in the phenotype is "carrier." A carrier possesses one allele for a particular trait but does not exhibit the trait themselves. This is often seen in genetic conditions where a recessive allele is present; for example, an individual may have one copy of a recessive gene for a condition but not show any symptoms because the dominant allele masks its effects. In contrast, "homozygous" refers to having two identical alleles for a particular gene, which doesn’t necessarily imply that one allele is unexpressed. "Phenotype" is the observable characteristic or trait of an organism, while "genotype" is the genetic makeup of an organism, which includes all alleles, regardless of their expression. Therefore, the most fitting term for someone with an unexpressed gene is a carrier, as it specifically indicates a person who can pass the gene to offspring without manifesting its phenotypic effects.

The term that describes a person whose genotype includes a gene that is not expressed in the phenotype is "carrier." A carrier possesses one allele for a particular trait but does not exhibit the trait themselves. This is often seen in genetic conditions where a recessive allele is present; for example, an individual may have one copy of a recessive gene for a condition but not show any symptoms because the dominant allele masks its effects.

In contrast, "homozygous" refers to having two identical alleles for a particular gene, which doesn’t necessarily imply that one allele is unexpressed. "Phenotype" is the observable characteristic or trait of an organism, while "genotype" is the genetic makeup of an organism, which includes all alleles, regardless of their expression. Therefore, the most fitting term for someone with an unexpressed gene is a carrier, as it specifically indicates a person who can pass the gene to offspring without manifesting its phenotypic effects.