The part of DNA that provides the code for proteins is called a gene.

Here's a breakdown:

* DNA: A long molecule that contains the genetic instructions for an organism. It's made up of two strands twisted together in a double helix.

* Gene: A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a specific protein.

* Protein: A complex molecule made up of amino acids. Proteins have a wide range of functions in the body, such as building and repairing tissues, transporting molecules, and catalyzing chemical reactions.

How it works:

1. Transcription: The gene's DNA sequence is copied into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.

2. Translation: The mRNA molecule travels to a ribosome, where it's read and used to assemble a chain of amino acids, forming the protein.

So, genes within DNA act as blueprints for proteins, determining the order of amino acids in each protein.