American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

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What is a gene?

A segment of RNA
A segment of base pairs in chromosomes
A type of body tissue
A cellular organelle

The correct answer is: A segment of base pairs in chromosomes

A gene is indeed defined as a segment of base pairs in chromosomes. Genes are fundamental units of heredity and are composed of DNA sequences that encode the instructions for building proteins, which in turn play critical roles in the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues, and organs. In humans and many other organisms, genes are arranged along chromosomes, with each gene located at a specific position or locus. While RNA is related to genes, particularly in the process of gene expression, it is not accurate to define a gene solely as a segment of RNA, as this does not reflect the entire biological function and structure associated with genes that are primarily DNA-based. Body tissues and cellular organelles, while essential components of the biological system, do not directly describe what a gene is.