What is the primary characteristic of sickle cell trait?

The primary characteristic of sickle cell trait is that individuals generally do not develop sickle cell disease. Sickle cell trait occurs when a person inherits one sickle cell gene and one normal hemoglobin gene, resulting in the production of both normal and sickle-shaped red blood cells. While individuals with sickle cell trait may have some abnormal red blood cells, they typically do not show the symptoms of sickle cell disease, as they have sufficient normal hemoglobin to prevent the complications associated with the disease.

This distinction is important because it indicates that having sickle cell trait does not equate to having sickle cell disease, which requires two copies of the sickle cell gene. Hence, while individuals with sickle cell trait can pass the gene to their offspring, they usually maintain health without the complications faced by those who have sickle cell disease.