recessive gene

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recessive gene A gene whose phenotypic effect is expressed in the homozygous state, but masked in the presence of a dominant allele in organisms heterozygous for that gene. Usually the dominant gene produces a functional product and the recessive gene does not. One or two doses per nucleus of the dominant allele lead to the expression of its phenotype; the recessive allele is expressed only in the absence of the dominant allele (i.e. two doses of the recessive gene).

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