Comparative analysis across species: What is the name of the discipline that studies similarities and differences among the genomes of multiple organisms?

Introduction / Context:
Genome sequences from thousands of species enable cross-species comparisons to infer evolutionary relationships, gene gain/loss, horizontal transfer, and conserved regulatory elements. The field dedicated to this cross-organism genome comparison has a specific name in modern genomics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The task is explicitly “studies of similarities and differences among genomes of multiple organisms.”
• We must distinguish among related subfields: proteomics, functional genomics, and structural genomics.

Concept / Approach:

Comparative genomics aligns and contrasts genomes across taxa to identify conserved genes, synteny, orthologs, paralogs, and patterns of selection. It uses tools such as whole-genome alignment, phylogenomics, and pan-genome analysis to interpret evolution and function.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Authoritative sources define comparative genomics precisely this way, separating it from functional genomics (expression/function) and structural genomics (3D protein structures).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Proteomics: proteins, not genomes.

Functional genomics: expression, regulation, phenotype links, not strictly cross-species DNA comparison.

Structural genomics: determines protein structures at scale.

Common Pitfalls:

Equating evolutionary study generally with comparative genomics; while related, comparative genomics specifically centers on DNA sequence comparisons across organisms.

Final Answer:

comparative genomics