Certain human populations show lower frequencies of carriers of recessive traits than others.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is true. Recessive traits are only expressed when an individual inherits two copies of the mutated gene. In populations where the frequency of carriers of the mutation is low, the likelihood of two carriers having children together and passing on the mutated gene is lower, resulting in a lower frequency of individuals expressing the trait. Populations with higher frequencies of consanguineous (related) marriages may have higher frequencies of carriers and express more recessive traits.

Certain Human Populations Show Lower Frequencies of Carriers of Recessive