autosomal recessive

Definition of autosomal recessive inheritance

autosomal recessive inheritance (AW-toh-SOH-mul reh-SEH-siv in-HAYR-ih-tunts): One of the ways a genetic trait or a genetic condition can be passed down (inherited) from parent to child. In autosomal recessive inheritance, a genetic condition occurs when the child inherits one mutated copy of a gene from each parent. The parents usually do not have the condition. The parents are called carriers because they each carry one copy of the mutated gene and can pass it to their children.

Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

autosomal recessive inheritance