The information from all the genes, taken together, makes up the blueprint or plan for the human body and its functions. A gene is a short segment of DNA which is interpreted by the body as a plan or template for building a specific protein .
Genes reside within long strands of DNA which in turn make up the chromosomes .
Matching genes from each parent exist on matching chromosomes and matching positions along the DNA within the chromosome. These genes are paired, one from the mother and one from the father.