What is the basic unit of heredity?

The basic unit of heredity is a gene. Genes are segments of DNA that contain the instructions for producing proteins, which play a vital role in determining an organism's traits. Each gene is responsible for specific characteristics and is inherited from parents to offspring, thus passing on various traits through generations. Genes are essential in the understanding of genetics and heredity, as they directly influence physical attributes and biological functions.

While chromosomes, DNA, and the genome are all related concepts in genetics, they are not the basic unit of heredity. Chromosomes are structures within cells that organize and carry genes. DNA is the molecular structure that makes up chromosomes and carries the genetic code. The genome is the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism. In summary, while all these components are integral to understanding heredity, the gene is the fundamental unit that carries the specific instructions for hereditary traits.