Carrier

Definition

In the context of genetics, a carrier is an individual who has inherited a recessive allele for a genetic trait or mutation but does not display that trait or show symptoms of the disease. Carriers are typically heterozygous, meaning they have one dominant and one recessive allele for the gene in question.

Related terms

Recessive allele: A type of allele that is masked by the presence of a dominant allele and only expressed phenotypically when two copies are present.

Heterozygous:

An organism that has two different alleles for a specific gene, one being dominant and the other recessive.

Phenotype:

The set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment