The traits of an organism are passed to its offspring on small coded strands of DNA called?

The traits of an organism are passed to its offspring on small coded strands of DNA called genes. Genes are segments of DNA that serve as the basic units of heredity. Each gene contains instructions for making proteins, which perform a vast array of functions in the body, influencing traits like eye color, blood type, and susceptibility to certain diseases. Genes are located on chromosomes, which are found in the nucleus of cells.

During reproduction, genes are inherited from both parents, with the child receiving half from the mother and half from the father, leading to a combination of traits. The study of genes and their functions is part of genetics, a field that has greatly advanced our understanding of heredity and variation in living organisms.