individuals whose genetic makeup carries the potential to pass on to their children a specific mutated gene that can lead to a disease (such as Canavan), even though these carriers are not themselves at risk for the disease.
people who have a disease-causing gene but do not have the disease because they have one normal gene.
Persons who possess and can pass a recessive gene to their offspring, but do not express the trait themselves. Because hemophilia is an X-linked, recessive trait, females are carriers of hemophilia but are seldom affected.
persons who carry a gene for a disease but do not have the disease.
Individuals that carry one normal and one abnormal gene. These individuals can transmit the disease by passing the gene to their offspring.