chromosome (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[chromosome 词源字典]
1889, from German Chromosom, coined 1888 by German anatomist Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz (1836-1921), from Latinized form of Greek khroma "color" (see chroma) + -some (3)). So called because the structures contain a substance that stains readily with basic dyes.[chromosome etymology, chromosome origin, 英语词源]