Recessive Diseases

Question 1

What is a recessive trait?

Answer 1

A recessive trait is one that is only expressed when an organism has two recessive alleles for that trait. They are less common than dominant traits in most populations because dominant traits will appear in those with both homozygous dominant and heterozygous alleles.

Question 2

Spinal muscular atrophy

Answer 2

Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by weakness and wasting (atrophy) in muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles).

Question 3

Thalassemia

Answer 3

A group of genetic blood disorders that decrease the amount of hemoglobin you have. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body.

Question 4

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Answer 4

A metabolic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down an amino acid called phenylalanine.