The gene is a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence, located in a specific position on a specific chromosome. It is the unit of hereditary that encodes a particular protein or RNA molecule.

The gene is stored as a code made up of four molecules, known as nucleotides, running along the length of two strands and joined together in pairs.  These nucleotides are made up of 4 bases: Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C); a phosphate group and a sugar molecule. A always pairs with T, and G always pairs with C. The nucleotides are linked together in a chain, called sequence. The backbone of the DNA is made up of alternating sugars and phosphate groups.

The DNA

(from Doug Lundberg's gifs)

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