Yet Another "-ome"

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As if we didn't have enough "-omes" in biology, I have come across yet another one: the methylome. It's beginning to sound like a Hindu temple up in here. My fascination with the -ome is well documented. I was made aware of the newest -ome in my collection by this preview of this article in Cell. The preview is entitled "The First High-Resolution DNA 'Methylome'" and describes a paper announcing a high resolution map of DNA methylation in the Arabidopsis genome.

We can thank Andrew Feinberg for introducing the term methylome, which he defines as "a neologism that describes the complete set of DNA methylation modifications of a cell." Check out this definition of neologism: "A meaningless word used by a psychotic." Exactly. Enough with the -ome already.

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In which I present a quick guide for the omically challenged and a defense of 'arth and "ome."
Ralf Neumann has interpreted my fascination with -omics as distaste for neologisms:
There. That banal neologism has been rattling around in my cranium for a few days like errant bb shot, and I needed to get it out there. Sometimes, a loathsome word must be purged from the brain before it causes too much damage.
Sandy has declared her love for all things "-omics". She even came up with a nifty table to define a bunch of omes. It's like she's created a list-o-omes-eome. Snark aside, here's why she likes omes:

... or, as the headline of an editorial about creative renaming of research in grant applications a few years ago (in Nature or Science, can't remember which) said: "'Ome is where the Art is".

As a calloused person I'm offended by your over-sensitivity.

you trivialize your white male privilege by dismissing it as "calloused"? there is a long history of structural discrimination against womyn and people of color in this country. you should educate yourself.

Might I propose the "omeome"? Of course, it's the word for entire collection of -omes coined by scientists.

By Peter Ellis (not verified) on 26 Sep 2006 #permalink