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

In these cases, an infected cell started copying a viral genome only to reverse partway through and then copy the genome backward to its starting point. —Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

To scientists, twins like Sam and John pose an important question: How can a disorder that is known to be highly genetic look so different in siblings who share the same genome? —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024

By allowing scientists to alter specific parts of the human genome, CRISPR opens up a way to correct or work around diseases with genetic components like sickle cell or beta thalassemia. —Robert Hart, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

Such studies compare entire genome sequences from many people in a search for areas of overlap between genes and certain traits. —Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2024

Now, scientists have traced our tail loss to a short sequence of genetic code that is abundant in our genome but had been dismissed for decades as junk DNA, a sequence that seemingly serves no biological purpose. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024

The study, published in Nature, is part of a larger study examining the genomes and DNA of the prehistoric Nordic population. —Bradford Betz, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2024

Some snake species now harbor up to 30 copies of different three-finger toxin genes in their genomes, showcasing the remarkable proliferation of these deadly toxins following the evolution of a new function. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

Between the two groups of animals, consistent variations in DNA methylation–a process where methyl groups bind to regions of the genome within a cell, and silence certain genes–are detectable. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 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