Do genes serve as blueprints for proteins or parts of proteins?

Genes indeed serve as blueprints for proteins or parts of proteins due to their role in encoding the sequences of amino acids that assemble to form proteins. Within a gene, the specific sequences of nucleotides in DNA dictate the order of amino acids in the protein that will be produced during the process of transcription and translation. This is fundamental to how genetic information is expressed and how proteins function within living organisms.

All proteins, whether they are enzymes, structural components, or any other type, originate from gene sequences. Enzymes are merely one category of proteins, and structural components include various proteins serving different functions in cellular architecture. Therefore, the assertion that genes serve as blueprints is accurate for the entire range of proteins rather than a select few categories. Understanding this highlights the critical role of genes in the broader context of molecular biology and genetics.