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Question 31

Which statements about a recessive allele are true? Select all that apply.

  1. Recessive means the allele is a weakened form of the gene
  2. An allele can be recessive and still be the most common allele in the populationCorrect answer
  3. Recessive means the allele is always harmful
  4. Whether an allele is recessive says nothing about whether it is harmfulCorrect answer

Explanation

The label is about expression: it records which of two different alleles is seen in the organism, and says nothing about quality or about how many organisms carry the allele. Recessive alleles range from completely harmless to significant in their effects, and one of them may be held by most of a population, so calling an allele weak or harmful simply because it is recessive reads a judgement into a word that carries none.

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Question 31: Which statements about a recessive allele are true? Select… · Genetics Basics · Questena