Which of the following best describes the role of earlobes in inheritance?

The role of earlobes in inheritance exemplifies the principles of Mendelian genetics, particularly regarding dominant and recessive traits. The correct answer highlights that recessive traits, such as attached earlobes, require both parents to carry the recessive allele for the trait to be expressed in their offspring.

In genetics, dominant traits are expressed even if only one parent contributes the dominant allele, while recessive traits are only visible when both alleles are recessive. Therefore, if a child has attached earlobes, it indicates that both parents must carry the allele for attached earlobes, even if they display the dominant trait themselves (free-hanging earlobes).

This understanding is crucial for recognizing patterns of inheritance and predicting future offspring traits based on parental genotypes. The aspect that only dominant traits are expressed is misleading, as it does not account for the necessity of both alleles being recessive for that trait to manifest. Additionally, although dominant traits can sometimes skip generations, this phenomenon does not apply universally, as some dominant traits are constantly expressed if inherited. While other genetic factors might influence traits, the essence of this question revolves around the specific relationship between dominant and recessive alleles, particularly in the case of e