What term did Gregor Mendel use to refer to traits that are masked by dominant traits?

What term did Gregor Mendel use to refer to traits that are masked by dominant traits?

• A. Inherited traits
• B. Ruling traits
• C. Recessive traits
• D. Dominant factors

Answer: (C)

Gregor Mendel introduced the concepts of dominant and recessive traits through his foundational work in genetics. The term he used for traits that are masked by dominant traits is "recessive traits." In Mendelian inheritance, a recessive trait is one that does not manifest in the organism's phenotype when a dominant trait is present. This means that in the presence of a dominant allele, the effects of the recessive allele are not observable. For example, if a plant has one gene for tall height (dominant) and one for short height (recessive), it will display the tall phenotype, thereby "masking" the effect of the recessive trait. The other terms provided do not accurately describe traits that are masked by dominant traits. Inherited traits are simply traits passed from parents to offspring without specific reference to dominance or recessiveness. Ruling traits is not a term recognized in Mendelian genetics and does not convey the concept of masking traits. Dominant factors, although related to dominant traits, does not pertain to traits that are masked; instead, it describes the traits that exert their effects in the presence of other traits. Thus, "recessive traits" is the precise term that encapsulates this important aspect of inheritance.

Gregor Mendel introduced the concepts of dominant and recessive traits through his foundational work in genetics. The term he used for traits that are masked by dominant traits is "recessive traits." In Mendelian inheritance, a recessive trait is one that does not manifest in the organism's phenotype when a dominant trait is present. This means that in the presence of a dominant allele, the effects of the recessive allele are not observable. For example, if a plant has one gene for tall height (dominant) and one for short height (recessive), it will display the tall phenotype, thereby "masking" the effect of the recessive trait.

The other terms provided do not accurately describe traits that are masked by dominant traits. Inherited traits are simply traits passed from parents to offspring without specific reference to dominance or recessiveness. Ruling traits is not a term recognized in Mendelian genetics and does not convey the concept of masking traits. Dominant factors, although related to dominant traits, does not pertain to traits that are masked; instead, it describes the traits that exert their effects in the presence of other traits. Thus, "recessive traits" is the precise term that encapsulates this important aspect of inheritance.