genóm

Genòm i refer to the complete set of genetic material present in an organism or a species. It encompasses all of an organism's hereditary information encoded within DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in most organisms, or in RNA (ribonucleic acid) in some viruses. The genome includes both the genes, which are sequences coding for proteins, and the non-coding regions, which have regulatory or structural functions.

The study of genomes, known as genomics, involves sequencing, analyzing, and comparing genetic information across different organisms. Advances in sequencing technologies have made it possible to decode entire genomes rapidly and cost-effectively, leading to significant insights in biology, medicine, agriculture, and evolutionary studies.

Genomes vary widely in size and complexity. For example, the human genome contains approximately 3 billion base pairs and around 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. In contrast, simpler organisms such as bacteria have much smaller genomes, often comprising only a few million base pairs with fewer genes.

Understanding the genome is fundamental for fields like personalized medicine, where genetic information guides treatment decisions, and for exploring genetic disorders, evolution, and biodiversity. Genomic research continues to expand, revealing the intricate complexity of life at the molecular level.

Overall, the genome serves as the blueprint for the development, function, and inheritance of living organisms, making it a central focus of biological sciences.