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Definition

noun, plural: genomes

(1) The complete set of genes in an organism.

(2) The total genetic content in one set of chromosomes.

Supplement

The genome of eukaryotes is contained in a single, haploid set of chromosomes. The genome of bacteria is contained in a single chromosome whereas the genome of viruses is in the DNA or RNA.

The human genome is made up of approximately 35000 genes, or three billion chemical base pairs.

Word origin: a portmanteau of the words gene and chromosome.
Related forms: genomic (adjective), genomics (noun), genomewide (adjective).
Related phrases: Human Genome Project, mitochondrial genome.
Compare: proteome.
See also: genes, DNA.