Recessive Traits and Alleles. For most genes, except those on parts of the X-chromosome in men, we have two copies, one from our mother and one from our father. For any specific gene, one or both copies can have changes that result in the gene not working properly. For many genes, the body can tolerate a problem with one copy that is not working, but not both. In other words, as long as you have at least one working copy, you have enough for your cells to work normally. However, if both copies are damaged, the cell can't function normally. This may cause anything from a change in hair color to a difficult health problem. Recessive traits follow this pattern. Carriers have one gene copy with a problem, but have enough leftover function from the other copy for normal cell function. People with two altered genes are missing whatever cell function is associated with the gene. Dominant traits occur when either half of the normal gene function is not enough, or when the change to a single copy causes new damaging effects to the cell that the normal gene does not.
Senior Clinician
Office of the Clinical Director
