What is genome?

The sequence of nucleotides in DNA that comprises the genetic makeup of an organism called genome. This repository stores all the information needed to specify cellular function and can be considered a blueprint for life. In past 15 years, researchers across the world have determined the complete genome sequence of numerous organisms, from thousands of bacterial species to multiple individual humans. These approaches have generated great excitement in all areas of biology and medicine as analysis of these sequences has greatly increased our understanding of cellular functions and evolution.

The genome is composed of genes and intergenic regions

The genome- the total DNA content of the cell- contains the instructions for cellular life. Within the genome, much of the critical information is found in discrete regions reffered as genes. A gene is typically defined as a region of DNA that controls a discrete, hereditary characteristic.

The genome is physically organized into chromosomes

The large amount of DNA that constitutes a genome must be packaged in an organized way that facilitates the various key events in the life of cell, including the replication of the DNA and the expression of the genes. The individual genes are arranged in a linear array, either densely or less densely spaced with intervening intergeneric DNA. All of this genomics DNA is packaged into one or more functional units called chromosomes.