What does the term transcriptome refer to?

The term transcriptome specifically refers to the complete set of RNA transcripts that are produced by the genome at any given time. This includes all varieties of RNA, such as messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and non-coding RNA. Essentially, the transcriptome reflects the gene expression profile of a cell or organism under specific conditions, providing insights into which genes are activated and to what degree.

Understanding the transcriptome is crucial in fields like functional genomics and systems biology, as it helps researchers investigate how genes are regulated and how their expression can vary in different environments or developmental stages. This concept highlights the dynamic nature of gene expression, differing from the static nature of the genome, which is the complete set of DNA. The other options, while related to genetics and molecular biology, represent different concepts, such as the entirety of DNA or proteins, rather than focusing on RNA transcripts specifically.