genome

[ jee-nohm ]

noun

, Genetics.

1. a full set of chromosomes; all the inheritable traits of an organism.

genome

/ ˈdʒiːnəʊm; dʒɪˈnɒmɪk /

noun

1. the full complement of genetic material within an organism
2. all the genes comprising a haploid set of chromosomes

genome

/ jē′nōm /

1. The total amount of genetic information in the chromosomes of an organism, including its genes and DNA sequences. The genome of eukaryotes is made up of a single, haploid set of chromosomes that is contained in the nucleus of every cell and exists in two copies in all cells except reproductive and red blood cells. The human genome is made up of about 20,000 to 25,000 genes.
2. Compare proteome

genome

1. The sum of all information contained in the DNA for any living thing. The sequence of all the nucleotides in all the chromosomes of an organism.

Derived Forms

• genomic, adjective

Other Words From

• ge·no·mic [ji-, noh, -mik, -, nom, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of genome¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from German Genom, from Gen gene + (Chromos)om chromosome

Word History and Origins

Origin of genome¹

C20: from German Genom, from Gen gene + ( chromos ) ome

Example Sentences

In 2010, Jianxin Ma, a professor of agronomy, and his collaborators built the first reference genome for soybeans on the widely studied Williams 82 variety.

From Science Daily

When the human genome was first published in 1990, it didn't even include the Y chromosome, which received its first complete sequence in 2023.

From Science Daily

The study marks a significant milestone as the first genetic investigation of piangua in Colombia, complete with the first detailed mapping of its genome.

From Science Daily

The researchers did not select the drug at random: this study followed comprehensive analyses of genome data in order to find starting points for repurposing established drugs.

From Science Daily

In the past decade and a half of researching Alzheimer's disease, scientists have increased the number of regions of our genome known to be associated with the condition from 10 to nearly 80.

From Science Daily