Gene (molecular biology)

A gene is a specific segment of DNA that carries the instructions for making a particular protein or functional RNA within a cell. These instructions determine biological traits and functions. Genes are like individual pages in a biological instruction manual, guiding how cells develop, operate, and reproduce. While the entire DNA contains many genes, each gene is a discrete unit that contributes to the characteristics of an organism. Variations in genes can influence everything from physical features to health predispositions, making them fundamental to understanding biology and heredity.