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# What's the difference between genes and DNA?

Good question!

Before I try to answer it, have a look at [__this quick resource__](https://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa_pre_2011/celldivision/celldivision1.shtml) explaining the differences between genes and DNA.

In essence, a DNA molecule contains several genes. A gene is a short section of a DNA molecule.

In other words, each gene is a portion of a long DNA molecule.

**You can think of a DNA molecule as a very long train, with each gene being a different wagon.**

But here's how it actually looks like:
*(Image: Chromosome-DNA-gene)* Image source: Wikipedia

[__This is another resource__](https://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-dna-and-genes/) with good information regarding the differences between genes and DNA.

The terms "genes" and "DNA" are often used interchangeably, because as you've just seen genes are made of DNA material, and DNA molecules are made of genes!

In future, where you haven't heard of a difficult term or a concept before, you'll want to quickly search it in [__Wikipedia__](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page). For example, here's the definition of "gene": [__https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene__](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene) and here's the definition of "DNA": [__https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA__](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA)

AUTHOR: Alex Ruani, Research Director