What is a genome?
Q: What is a genome?
A: A genome is the whole of an organism's hereditary information encoded in its DNA (or, for some viruses, RNA). This includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA.
Q: Who coined the term "genome"?
A: Professor Hans Winkler coined the term "genome" in 1920.
Q: What did Winkler define as a genome?
A: Winkler defined a genome as "the haploid chromosome set, which, together with the pertinent protoplasm, specifies the material foundations of the species."
Q: Does every individual have genetic variety?
A: Yes, due to alleles carried by a population, every individual is genetically different. Even diploid individuals carry genetic variety.
Q: What does it mean when we say 'nuclear genome'?
A: When we refer to 'nuclear genome', it specifically means the complete set of nuclear DNA.
Q: Are there other genomes besides nuclear genomes?
A: Yes, there are also mitochondrial genomes and chloroplast genomes that contain their own DNA.
