How are chromosomes connected to genes?

Chromosomes and genes are fundamentally linked as the physical structures and functional units of heredity, respectively. A gene is a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that acts as the functional unit of inheritance, controlling the transmission and expression of traits.1

Chromosomes serve as the carriers of these genes. They are microscopic, threadlike structures located within the cell nucleus (in eukaryotes) that organize and protect genetic material. Their compact structure is essential for fitting long strands of DNA into the cell and ensuring that genetic information is accurately replicated and distributed during cell division, whether through mitosis or meiosis.23

In essence, while genes provide the coded instructions for biological functions, chromosomes provide the physical framework that houses, organizes, and transmits that information to subsequent generations.234