exome

noun

ex·​ome ˈek-ˌsōm How to pronounce exome (audio)
: the part of the genome consisting of exons that code information for protein synthesis
The Personal Genome Project is beginning with the exome: the 1 percent of our genome that is translated into strings of amino acids that assemble themselves into proteins.Steven Pinker
The exome is the portion of the genome known to encode proteins … . Whole-exome sequencing has the advantage of reduced cost and analysis of a much smaller data set than that obtained by sequencing the entire genome.Howard J. Jacob

Examples of exome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are many genetic test types, including single gene testing, panel tests, whole exome/genome sequencing, chromosomal tests, gene expression, and biochemical tests. Rajeev Ronanki, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 First, scientists analyze the patient’s tumor, comparing its exome with the whole exome sequencing of the patient’s blood to identify the tumor’s protein-coding alterations. Michele Cohen Marill, Wired, 26 Feb. 2021 This is all the more reason for high coverage genome sequencing (or at least exome sequencing). Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 23 Aug. 2012 The current process in prenatal diagnostic testing is complicated, as patients and providers must choose from multiple tests, each designed and calibrated to analyze only a subset of genetic changes, including karyotype, FISH, microarray, gene panels and exome sequencing. Haim Neerman, Forbes, 7 June 2022 As it's widely accepted that about 85% of disease-causing variants are found within the exome, WES can help identify genetic mutations and provide insights on cancer biomarkers and other changes in a person’s genes—all of which are important for understanding cancer growth drivers. Demaris Mills, Forbes, 24 June 2022 Whole genome and exome sequencing were eventually performed on Cyrus, and the results came back a perplexing mix of errors. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 18 Feb. 2023 Last year, his team showed that exome sequencing could offer a probable diagnosis in 35% of the study participants whose genetic cause had been unknown. Claire Ainsworth, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2018 Over at IEEE Spectrum Eliza Strickland has a long piece, The Gene Machine and Me, which reports on her experience with exome sequencing (this refers to the ~1 percent of the genome, or 30 billion base pairs, which is coding). Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2013

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ex(on) + (gen)ome

First Known Use

2008, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exome was in 2008

Dictionary Entries Near exome

Cite this Entry

“Exome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exome. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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