What do we call the basic unit of heredity that can be passed from one generation to the next?

• A. Chromosome
• B. Gene
• C. Allele
• D. Protein

Answer: (B)

The basic unit of heredity that can be passed from one generation to the next is a gene. Genes are segments of DNA that contain the instructions for building proteins, which perform a variety of functions in the body and influence traits. Each gene is a specific sequence of nucleotides and is responsible for hereditary information.

Chromosomes, while important structures that contain many genes, serve as carriers of genetic material rather than the units of heredity themselves. An allele is a variant form of a gene; for example, a gene may code for eye color, and the allele may specify blue or brown eyes. Proteins are ultimately the products of gene expression but are not passed down as units of heredity. Instead, genes encode the information that determines the structure and function of proteins. Thus, identifying a gene as the fundamental unit of heredity captures the essence of how traits are transmitted through generations.