Difference between Genome and Exome

The main difference between Genome and Exome is the difference of their composition and genetic makeup. Genome is the whole genetic information of an organisms while Exome is only the coding part of genome.

Genome contains all the information that is important for an organism’s development and structure. While it’s important to study exome because most of the complex diseases occur due to mutations in exons.

Genome Vs Exome

Here are the key differences between Genome and Exome:

Characters	Genome	Exome
Definition	Complete genetic code of an organism is known as Genome. It includes both coding and non-coding regions of DNA.	Parts of genome that code for proteins i.e. exons, collectively called Exome.
Size	Entire genetic material	It consists of 1-2% of whole genome.
Composition	Includes both coding (genes) and non-coding parts of DNA	Only coding regions (exons)
Sequencing Scope	Provides full genetic information	Limited to protein-coding information
Analysis time	Requires longer time	Shorter analysis time
Applications	Studying evolutionary history and genetic variants, understanding complex diseases	Diagnosing genetic disorders, Identifying disease-causing mutations, predicting drug response