Etymology

genome

G2E1N1O1M3E1

Today it means: The complete genetic information (either DNA or, in some viruses, RNA) of an organism. Full definition →

First used 1930German Genom
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The story

  1. German · derived fromGenom
  2. English todaygenome

From earlier genom, from German Genom, coined by German botanist Hans Winkler in 1920 as a blend of Gen (“gene”) + Chromosom (“chromosome”). By surface analysis, gen(e) + -ome, or a blend of gen(e) + (chromos)ome. Spelling altered to reflect the surface analysis.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1930 The complete genetic information (either DNA or, in some viruses, RNA) of an organism.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.