Genome
/ˈdʒiːnəʊm/
Definitions
The complete set of genetic instructions in an organism, including all its genes.
/ˈdʒiːnəʊm/
The complete set of genetic material present in a cell or organism.
The human genome project aims to map the entire human genome.
💡 Simply: Imagine your body is like a recipe book. The genome is the complete recipe book with all the instructions on how to build and run you! It tells your cells everything they need to know.
👶 For kids: It's like a big instruction book that tells your body how to grow and work.
More Examples
Researchers are analyzing the genome of the virus to understand its spread.
Mutations in the genome can lead to various diseases.
How It's Used
"Scientists are studying the human genome to understand genetic diseases."
"Genome sequencing can help identify potential drug targets."
"The entire genome of the fruit fly has been sequenced."
Coined in 1920 by Hans Winkler, combining 'gene' and the suffix '-ome' (meaning 'complete set').
The term gained prominence with the development of molecular biology and the ability to sequence and analyze DNA.
Memory tip
Think of 'genome' as the whole 'gene'-based 'home' for an organism's information.
Word Origin
"A combination of 'gene' and '-ome', meaning all genes."