The most control of traits and inheritance comes from genes. Genes are segments of DNA that carry the instructions for making proteins, which perform most life functions and make up the majority of cellular structures. They are inherited from both parents, which means that individuals get a combination of traits from their mother and father.
Each gene can have different forms called alleles, which can result in variations in traits. For example, the gene that determines eye color may have a brown allele and a blue allele. The combination of these alleles inherited from the parents will determine the eye color of the offspring. Furthermore, while genes play a critical role in inheritance, environmental factors can also influence how these traits are expressed, leading to a complex interplay between genetics and environment.