Final answer:
The proteome refers to the entire set of proteins produced by an organism, representing a dynamic and complex aspect of biology that varies with gene expression and environmental conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proteome refers to all of the proteins that an organism produces. It encompasses the entire set of proteins produced by a cell type, which can be studied using genomics, as genes code for mRNAs that in turn encode proteins. However, not all mRNAs are always translated into proteins. Proteomics is the study of the function of proteomes and it complements genomics, providing more dynamic and variable insights than the constant genome. Proteomes are influenced by various factors including environmental conditions, gene expression, mRNA splicing, and post-translational modifications, making it a complex but highly informative area of study.