The complete set of DNA (genetic material) in an organism.
In people, almost every cell in the body contains a complete copy of the
genome. The genome contains all of the information needed for a person to
develop and grow. Studying the genome may help researchers understand how
different types of cancer form and respond to treatment. This may lead to new
ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer1.
The genome is the entire set of genetic instructions found in a cell. In humans, the genome consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes, found in the nucleus, as well as a small chromosome found in the cells' mitochondria. Each set of 23 chromosomes contains approximately 3.1 billion bases of DNA sequence24.