Here's why:

* Trait: A trait is a specific characteristic of an organism, determined by its genes. It can be physical (like eye color, height, or hair texture) or behavioral (like a bird's song or a dog's temperament).

* Gene: A gene is a segment of DNA that provides instructions for building a specific protein, which in turn influences a trait.

So, eye color is a trait, and the genes you inherit from your parents determine what your eye color will be.