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genome (je´nōm)   the entire set of genetic information of an organism, cell, organelle, or virus. It is DNA in eukaryotes (organisms whose cells have a true nucleus) and prokaryotes (organisms whose cells do not have a true nucleus), and either DNA or RNA in viruses. The human genome has an estimated 60,000–80,000 genes. adj., genom´ic, adj. .
 

mitochondrial genome  a circular double-stranded DNA molecule present in each mitochondrion of a cell. Each mitochondrion contains 5 to 10 copies of the molecule, which means that each cell contains thousands of copies. The genetic code of the mitochondrial genome is slightly different than the code of the nuclear genome, and it has a higher rate of mutation. Because the mitochondria occur in the cytoplasm, the genome is transmitted by maternal inheritance. In humans, the mitochondrial genome contains 37 genes.





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