genome

noun

ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm 

: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain

broadly : the genetic material of an organism compare proteome

Examples of genome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists have studied the genomes of about 20,000 species. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2024

More reads How doctors are pressuring sickle cell patients into unwanted sterilizations, STAT Black Americans’ risk for breast cancer gains clarity in analysis of 40,000 genomes, STAT A novel spinal cord stimulator treats paralysis without surgery. —Elaine Chen, STAT, 21 May 2024

Previous evolutionary trees of plants built by scientists often used the genome of the chloroplast, the organelle that allows plants to perform photosynthesis. —Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 11 May 2024

This provided support for a link between genome size and multicellularity. —Quanta Magazine, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

German Genom, from Gen gene + -om (as in Chromosom chromosome)

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing genome

• genome editing

Medical Definition

genome

noun

ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm 

: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain

broadly : the genetic material of an organism

The idea behind sequencing an organism's genome—decoding, letter by letter, the message contained in every last one of its genes—is that it would tell us a lot about how the organism works.

—Lori Oliwenstein, Discover