genome Biol.
(ˈdʒiːnəʊm)
Formerly also genom (-nəm).
[a. G. genom (H. Winkler Verbreitung u. Ursache d. Parthenogenesis (1920) iv. 165), irreg. f. gen gene1 + chromosom chromosome.]
A haploid set of chromosomes; the sum-total of the genes in such a set.
| 1930 Cytologia I. 14 Chromosomes from different sets (or genoms) of Triticum vulgare show affinity toward each other. 1930 [see allopolyploidy]. 1932 Proc. 6th Int. Congr. Genetics I. 275 The inviability of deficient genomes in the haploid generation serves to some extent as an alternative distinction between mutation and deficiency. Ibid. II. 5 There are two species having genoms resembling C. neglecta. 1952 C. P. Blacker Eugenics x. 243 The appearance of such terms as gene-complex and genome (denoting a set of chromosomes as a working unity) testify to the movement towards holism in genetics. 1965 A. M. Srb et al. Gen. Genetics (ed. 2) vii. 190 Among organisms with chromosomes, each species has a characteristic set of genes, or genome. In diploids a genome is found in each normal gamete. It consists of a full set of the different kinds of chromosomes. 1970 Sci. Amer. Oct. 19/1 The human genome..consists of perhaps as many as 10 million genes. |