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Everything about Polyploidy

Condition where cells have more than two sets of chromosomes

Polyploidy is a condition in which the cells of an organism have more than two paired sets of (homologous) chromosomes. Most species whose cells have nuclei (eukaryotes) are diploid, meaning they have two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each of two parents; each set contains the same number of chromosomes, and the chromosomes are joined in pairs of homologous chromosomes. However, some organisms are polyploid. Polyploidy is especially common in plants. Most eukaryotes have diploid somatic cells, but produce haploid gametes by meiosis. A monoploid has only one set of chromosomes, and the term is usually only applied to cells or organisms that are normally diploid. Males of bees and other Hymenoptera, for example, are monoploid. Unlike animals, plants and multicellular algae have life cycles with two alternating multicellular generations. The gametophyte generation is haploid, and produces gametes by mitosis; the sporophyte generation is diploid and produces spores by meiosis. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: PolyploidyA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: Impact of polyploidy on plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressesInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: LasherThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Ancestral polyploidy in seed plants and angiospermsCited 2,090 times
  5. Go sideways: PloidyA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: PaleopolyploidyA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Noun The condition of being polyploid or the process of becoming polyploid.

Noun An instance of being polyploid.

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Terminology
  2. Examples

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

🔗 Related topics