Genes are the basic unit of heredity in living organisms. They are made up of DNA and act as instructions for building and maintaining the structures and functions of cells. Genes determine many of our traits, such as eye color, blood type, and susceptibility to certain diseases.
A gene is composed of a specific sequence of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. This sequence provides the code for making specific proteins, which are essential for the growth and development of an organism.
Genes are passed down from parents to offspring. Offspring inherit one set of genes from each parent, and these genes combine to determine the traits of the offspring. The process of inheriting genes from parents is called heredity.