genome

Meaning of genome: A genome is the full set of DNA instructions an organism carries, including genes and the sequences that regulate them.

Definition of genome

A genome is the complete set of genetic material contained within an organism's cells, including all of its genes as well as the DNA sequences that do not code for proteins but help regulate how genes are turned on and off. In humans, the genome is organized into chromosomes located in the nucleus of nearly every cell, along with a small separate genome contained in mitochondria.

Sequencing a genome means determining the precise order of its DNA building blocks, which allows researchers and clinicians to identify genetic variants, study inherited conditions, and compare genetic material between individuals or species. A person's genome is largely consistent across the cells of their body, though certain cells, such as egg and sperm cells or some cancer cells, can differ.

The genome is distinct from the proteome, which refers to the full set of proteins that the genome's instructions ultimately produce.