What does a dominant trait do in relation to a recessive trait?

A dominant trait specifically masks the expression of a recessive trait. This means that if an individual carries both a dominant and a recessive allele for a particular gene, the phenotype (observable characteristics) will reflect the dominant trait rather than the recessive one.

In genetics, alleles can be dominant or recessive, with dominant alleles typically being represented by uppercase letters. When dominant and recessive alleles are present together, the characteristics dictated by the dominant allele are expressed, while those of the recessive allele are not visible in the phenotype. For example, if a plant has one allele for tall growth (dominant) and one for short growth (recessive), the plant will be tall because the tall trait masks the short trait.

This principle is fundamental in understanding inheritance patterns, as it helps predict traits in offspring based on parental genotypes. The other options do not accurately describe the relationship between dominant and recessive traits, as they either imply a different interaction or suggest that the dominant trait does not influence the recessive one at all.