Word
genome
US/ˈdʒiˌnoʊm/
UK/dʒˈiːnəʊm/
Definition
n. the complete set of genetic instructions needed to build and operate a living thing. You can think of it as the master blueprint found inside every cell of an organism.
n. the entire set of genetic material, including all genes and non-coding sequences, contained within a cell or organism.
Examples
“Scientists mapped the human genome to understand our DNA better.”
“By sequencing the plant's genome, researchers identified the specific genes responsible for its resistance to drought.”
“Advances in high-throughput sequencing have allowed biologists to compare the genomes of different species, revealing deep evolutionary connections that were previously hidden from view.”
Examples
simple
“Scientists mapped the human genome to understand our DNA better.”
contextual
“By sequencing the plant's genome, researchers identified the specific genes responsible for its resistance to drought.”
complex
“Advances in high-throughput sequencing have allowed biologists to compare the genomes of different species, revealing deep evolutionary connections that were previously hidden from view.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article ('the genome') when referring to a species as a whole.
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“They had sequenced genomes from samples from 22 people with Ebola.” “Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes.” “It is the first time whole genomes have been successfully designed by AI.” Etymology
From earlier genom, from German Genom, coined by German botanist Hans Winkler in 1920 as a blend of Gen (“gene”) + Chromosom (“chromosome”). By surface analysis, gen(e) + -ome, or a blend of gen(e) + (chromos)ome. Spelling altered to reflect the surface analysis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/genome