Recessive inheritance — In a simple complete-dominance model, a relationship in which the trait is not expressed in a heterozygote and appears when two copies of the recessive allele are present. “Recessive” does not mean weak or inferior.
Understanding by example
For an Aa × Aa cross, each offspring has probabilities of 25% AA, 50% Aa and 25% aa. If aa is the recessive phenotype, a non-recessive offspring has a two-thirds conditional probability of being Aa. These are model probabilities, not a genetic test result for an individual.
Common misconceptions
Probabilities are not quotas that every clutch must fill. Similar-looking traits caused by different genes should not be grouped as one recessive condition. With multiple albino strains, identify the locus or lineage to which a claim applies.
Related reading and sources
For species-specific context, see Albino Strains and Recessive Inheritance. Browse the full glossary.
Basic reference: NHGRI: Recessive Traits and Alleles.