What does the term 'carrier' signify in genetics?

In genetics, the term 'carrier' refers to an individual who possesses one recessive allele for a specific trait while having one dominant allele for that same trait. This means that while the individual does not express the recessive trait themselves (since the dominant allele masks its effect), they can still pass the recessive allele to their offspring. If the offspring inherits the recessive allele from both parents, they may express the recessive trait.

The concept of a carrier is important in understanding inheritance patterns, particularly in conditions that follow Mendelian genetics, where traits can be dominant or recessive. This is often seen in genetic disorders, where carriers may not exhibit the disorder but can pass it on to the next generation.