In other words, it is the genes along your chromosomes that determine what you are.

Remember genes occur in pairs on chromosomes. These are human chromosomes at the left. Note that there are 23 pairs of chromosomes. Genes are located as "strings" along each strand of the chromosome. The alleles, or different states of the genes, are located opposite one another on these strands. Note the difference between the X and Y chromosome (the sex chromosome.) Some genetic information is missing on the Y chromosome.