genome
/ˈdʒiː.nəʊm/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A genome is the complete set of genetic material in a living thing. It includes all the DNA, or RNA in some viruses, that helps control how it grows and works.
- Scientists mapped the human genome.
- This disease affects the genome.
Adinary Nuance
A genome is the whole genetic package of an organism, not one gene. Use gene for one small unit of heredity, and DNA for the chemical material itself. In science writing, genome is the broader, more complete term.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bộ gen
- Spanish
- genoma
- Chinese
- 基因组
- Japanese
- ゲノム
- Korean
- 게놈
Etymology
The word genome was formed in the early 20th century from German Genom, using Greek genos meaning “race” or “kind.” It became common in biology as scientists studied heredity and DNA.
Common phrases
human genomegenome sequencinggenome editingmap the genome
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is genome the same as gene?
- No. A gene is one part of heredity. A genome is the full set of genetic material.
- Is genome used in academic writing?
- Yes. It is common in biology, medicine, and research writing.
- How do I use genome in a sentence?
- Use it for the full genetic information of an organism. Example: "Researchers studied the plant genome."
- Is genome a common everyday word?
- It is common in science, but not in everyday conversation.