Which statement correctly describes a recessive trait?

A recessive trait is defined by its expression only in a homozygous condition, meaning that an individual must have two copies of the recessive allele for the trait to be observed in the phenotype. In contrast, a dominant trait will be expressed even in the presence of just one dominant allele, which is why recessive traits can often remain hidden when paired with a dominant allele in a heterozygous condition.

The understanding that recessive traits require the individual to possess two identical alleles to be seen highlights why it is important in the study of heredity; this notion is foundational in genetic inheritance and explains how traits can skip generations. Given this, when assessing traits, one typically sees recessive traits manifesting less frequently because they require this homozygous state for expression, differentiating them from dominant traits, which can be expressed in any form of the allele combination.