Genes primarily function as units of heredity that encode the instructions for building and maintaining an organism. Here’s a breakdown based on the options you provided:
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Code for traits: This is correct. Genes contain the information necessary to produce proteins, which in turn determine the traits and characteristics of an organism.
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Protect the cell: While genes can be involved in protective mechanisms (such as those coding for proteins that defend against viruses or cellular damage), protection is not their primary function.
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It is unknown: This is not accurate. The functions of genes are well understood in the context of heredity and protein coding.
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Help hold DNA together: Genes themselves do not hold DNA together; rather, they are segments of DNA that carry the information. The DNA double helix structure is stabilized by various proteins, including histones, but this is separate from the function of genes.
So, the best answer is that genes primarily code for traits.
1 answer