Edit page | Page history | Printable version

recessive, autosomal

A gene on a nonsex chromosome (an autosome) that expresses itself only when there is no different gene present at that locus (spot on the chromosome). For example, cystic fibrosis (cf) is an autosomal recessive disorder. A cf child has the cf gene on both chromosome 7's (and so is said to be homozygous for cf).