What do the hereditary instructions in DNA specify?

The hereditary instructions in DNA specify the sequence of amino acids that make up proteins which are the building blocks of all living things. DNA acts as an instruction manual to guide the production of proteins which are essential for the functioning of cells tissues and organs. DNA is structured in the form of a double helix with four bases - adenine thymine guanine and cytosine - that are arranged in a specific order. These four bases form base pairs which contain the instructions for the production of proteins. The sequence of these base pairs makes up genes which are the instructions for the production of a specific protein. Genes are arranged in chromosomes which are the packages of genetic material that are passed down from parents to children.