In the context of genetics, what does the term "genome" refer to?

The term "genome" encompasses the complete set of genetic material present in an organism, which includes all of its genes as well as non-coding sequences of DNA. Essentially, a genome represents the entirety of the hereditary information encoded within an organism's DNA. This definition goes beyond just the genes that are expressed; it includes every piece of genetic information that can be inherited, whether or not that information is currently active or expressed in a particular cell or tissue at a given time.

In contrast, other choices focus on specific aspects of genetics rather than the comprehensive framework that the genome represents. The physical structure of DNA, for example, pertains to the molecular form and architecture of the DNA itself, while the process of gene editing relates to specific techniques used to alter genetic material rather than the overall genetic content of an organism. The expression of genes points to the active proteins and characteristics, which is only a fraction of what the genome includes, as a significant portion of the genetic material may be non-coding and yet still part of the genome.