genome

American  

[jee-nohm] / ˈdʒi noʊm /

Also genom

noun

Genetics.

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

---

genome British  

/ ˈdʒiːnəʊm, dʒɪˈnɒmɪk /

noun

1. the full complement of genetic material within an organism

2. all the genes comprising a haploid set of chromosomes

---

genome Scientific  

/ 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 Cultural  

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.

---

Other Word Forms

• genomic adjective

Etymology

Origin of genome

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

Example Sentences

Exxon’s algae work was done in conjunction with Synthetic Genomics, a company founded by Craig Venter, a pioneer in decoding the human genome, that later operated under the name Viridos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Although many questions remain, the findings help explain how errors in genome folding can lead to disease.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

The combination of "three different disruptive technologies: genome sequencing, artificial intelligence, and RNA therapeutics... offers new possibilities and challenges", Smith said.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Gallio and his team were the first to sequence the snow fly genome and compare it with related insects that are not adapted to cold environments.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Genes that operated on the same metabolic pathway were physically linked to each other: if you worked together, then you lived together in the genome.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee