Genes contain the instructions for making proteins. A gene is a section of DNA located on a chromosome that determines the order of amino acids in a specific protein. RNA carries the protein codes from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm where proteins are made. Mutations can occur when DNA is copied incorrectly, resulting in proteins that may not function properly. Mutations in body cells may or may not threaten the organism, while mutations in sex cells are inherited by all future cells.