Here's a breakdown:
* DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.
* Gene: A specific segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a particular protein.
* Protein: A complex molecule made up of amino acids that perform a wide variety of functions in the body, such as building and repairing tissues, transporting substances, and acting as enzymes.
Essentially, a gene is like a blueprint or recipe for making a protein. The sequence of nucleotides within a gene determines the sequence of amino acids in the protein.