What is a Genome? A genome is the complete set of genetic information that defines a living organism. It includes all the DNA in an organism's cells, which contains the instructions needed to build and maintain that organism. Image: Cell [Credit: genome.gov ] At the core of the genome is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), a special molecule that carries genetic information. Think of DNA as a long instruction manual for building everything in our body. DNA is made up of four smaller molecules known as bases : Adenine (A) Thymine (T) Cytosine (C) Guanine (G) The sequence, or order, of these bases is what provides the instructions for making proteins, which are the building blocks of our cells and play a crucial role in how our bodies function. Image: DNA [Credit: yourgenome.org ] Genes: The Functional Units of DNA A gene is a specific segment of DNA that contains instructions for producing a particular protein. For example, a gene might instruct the body to produce a protein that...