What describes a recessive trait?

A recessive trait is defined as one that is preferentially masked by a dominant trait in a heterozygous individual. This means that if an organism has one dominant allele and one recessive allele for a particular gene, the dominant allele will determine the organism's phenotype, leading to the recessive trait not being expressed. In simpler terms, the presence of a dominant allele overshadows the recessive one, and the effects of the recessive trait are only visible when an individual possesses two copies of the recessive allele (homozygous recessive).

This understanding highlights the fundamental principles of Mendelian genetics, where the interactions between dominant and recessive alleles dictate the observable traits in an organism. Thus, the correct answer accurately encapsulates the nature of recessive traits in genetic expression.