Study for the California Science Test. Get ready for the 8th grade exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Prepare with confidence!

Multiple Choice

A strand of DNA that carries genetic information is called a what?

A gene is the unit of heredity: a specific stretch of DNA that contains the instructions to make a product, typically a protein or RNA molecule. A chromosome is a larger structure that bundles many genes together along with other DNA and proteins. So while a chromosome does carry genetic information, it’s the gene—an individual segment—that holds the instruction for a particular trait or function. Proteins are the products encoded by genes, and mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that can alter those instructions.

A gene is the unit of heredity: a specific stretch of DNA that contains the instructions to make a product, typically a protein or RNA molecule. A chromosome is a larger structure that bundles many genes together along with other DNA and proteins. So while a chromosome does carry genetic information, it’s the gene—an individual segment—that holds the instruction for a particular trait or function. Proteins are the products encoded by genes, and mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that can alter those instructions.