# In humans, the allele for freckles (A) is dominant over the allele for no freckles (a). Two parents who both have freckles have a child with no freckles. Explain how this is possible, using the terms genotype and phenotype in your answer.

> Eduqas GCSE Biology — 2.3.2 Inheritance · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Both parents must carry the recessive allele for no freckles (a), i.e. both are heterozygous (Aa)
2. The child inherits the recessive allele from each parent, giving the homozygous recessive genotype (aa)
3. Because the allele for no freckles is recessive, it is only expressed in the phenotype when no dominant allele is present
4. The parents have freckles as their phenotype despite carrying the recessive allele because the dominant allele (A) masks the recessive allele (a) in heterozygous individuals

## Key terms

- [allele](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/allele)
- [dominant](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/dominant)
- [genotype](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/genotype)
- [phenotype](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/phenotype)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Biology](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/in-humans-the-allele-for-freckles-5ac37a10) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.