A recessive gene
A) is never expressed.
B) can influence a genotype,but not a phenotype.
C) can influence the phenotype of female children,but not male children.
D) can influence a phenotype when it occurs in pairs or on the X chromosome.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A recessive gene can only influence the phenotype when it occurs in pairs, as it is masked by the dominant gene in a heterozygous individual. It can also influence the phenotype if it is located on the X chromosome, as males only have one X chromosome and therefore only need one copy of the recessive gene to exhibit the phenotype. Female children would need two copies of the recessive gene to exhibit the phenotype, as they have two X chromosomes.

A Recessive Gene