definition of "Genome"

[Tim Littlejohn]

Andrea,

On Tue, 7 May 1996, Andrea Crampton wrote:

> Can anyone give me a good definition of the word genome.there seems to 
> be some conflicting fews floating around.  Does it refer solely to the 
> haploid chromosome content when refering to eukaryotes or can it 
> include the diploid content......? Also should mitochondrial DNA be 
> include in the description of an organisms genome??? (i am of the 
> bbelief that it is not)

The mitochondrial genome should be included as a part of the organism's
genome and a genome in its own right. This is because the two are really
inseparable: many mitochondrial genes have migrated from the mitochondrial
genome into the nuclear genome, making the eukaryotic genome a mosaic in
this sense.

In Canada there is both an organelle genome program: 

    http://megasun.bch.umontreal.ca/ogmpproj.html

and an organelle genome database project:

    http://megasun.bch.umontreal.ca/gobase/gobase.html

which look at organelle genomics. You might find these sites of interest.

Cheers,

Tim Littlejohn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   ANGIS- The Australian National Genomic Information Service           |
|                     http://www.angis.su.oz.au                          |
|      email: tim at angis.su.oz.au    Phone/FAX: 61-2-351 2948             |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------