What is defined as the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes?

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The complete set of instructions for making an organism, which encompasses all the genetic material contained within the chromosomes, is referred to as the genome. The genome includes both the genes, which are segments of DNA that code for proteins, as well as non-coding sequences that may have regulatory or structural functions. This concept encompasses not only the DNA of nuclear chromosomes but also the DNA found in organelles such as mitochondria.

Understanding the genome is crucial because it serves as the blueprint for all the biological processes within an organism, influencing everything from physical traits to susceptibility to diseases.

In contrast, the DNA sequence refers specifically to the order of nucleotides in a segment of DNA and does not encompass the entirety of genetic material present in an organism. The chromosomal map is a representation of the positions of genes on chromosomes but does not constitute the entire set of instructions as the genome does. The proteome involves the entire set of proteins expressed by a genome, which results from the translation of the genetic instructions, but it does not serve to define the complete set of genetic material itself.

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