What role do genes play in heredity and the expression of traits?
What role do genes play in heredity and the expression of traits?
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A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a specific protein or set of proteins. Genes are the basic units of heredity and are responsible for the inherited traits and characteristics passed from parents to offspring. Each gene is located at a specific position (locus) on a chromosome and can vary in length.
Genes are composed of sequences of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. These sequences encode the information necessary for the synthesis of proteins, which perform various functions in the body, such as catalyzing metabolic reactions, providing structural support, and regulating cellular processes.
The process of using a gene to produce a protein involves two main steps:
1. Transcription: The gene’s DNA sequence is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA).
2. Translation: The mRNA is used as a template to assemble the protein from amino acids.
Genes play a crucial role in determining an organism’s development, functioning, and overall phenotype (observable traits).