Here's how it works:

* Genes are segments of DNA that contain the instructions for building and maintaining an organism.

* These instructions are written in a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).

* The sequence of these bases determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein.

* Proteins are the workhorses of the cell. They perform a wide variety of functions, including:

* Building and repairing tissues

* Catalyzing chemical reactions

* Transporting molecules

* Regulating cell processes

* Providing structural support

The process of going from a gene to a protein is called gene expression:

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

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

So, while genes don't directly build proteins, they provide the blueprint that determines the protein's structure and function. This, in turn, influences the characteristics and traits of an organism.