by Yasemin Cole
(Noun. /JEE-nohm/)
What does it mean?
A genome is an entire set of genetic instructions in each cell of an organism. For humans, this consists of 23 paired chromosomes contained with each of the cells within our body. Some parts of our genome are genes that code for producing proteins. These are commonly called “protein-coding genes.” Other parts of the genome are called “non-coding genetic elements.” These sequences of DNA regulate how, when, and where proteins are produced.
How do I use it in a sentence?
On February 12, 2001, a drafted sequence of the human genome project was published in Nature as part of the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium.
Etymology
In the 1920s, the term “genome” was coined by the German botanist Hans Winkler. While writing a botany textbook, he merged the German word for gene “gen” with the Greek suffix “ome” for body. The term became more popular after Watson and Crick described the structure of DNA.
History of usage
This term was first used in 1926.
Related terms
Genomics
Gene
Genetics
Fields of study in which this word is commonly used
Genetics
Medicine
Computational Biology
