polyploid

[ pol-ee-ploid ]

adjective

1. having a chromosome number that is more than double the basic or haploid number.

noun

1. a polyploid cell or organism.

polyploid

/ ˈpɒlɪˌplɔɪd /

adjective

1. (of cells, organisms, etc) having more than twice the basic (haploid) number of chromosomes

noun

1. an individual or cell of this type

polyploid

/ pŏl′ē-ploid′ /

1. Having more than two complete sets of chromosomes. Many plants that are polyploid, such as dandelions, are sterile but can reproduce by apomixis or other asexual means. Other polyploid plants are fertile. For example, durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum durum ), which is used to make pasta, is tetraploid (it has four sets of chromosomes), while bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) is hexaploid (six sets of chromosomes). Polyploid plants, if viable, are often larger or more productive than diploid plants, and plant breeders often deliberately produce such plants by crossing species or other means. In the animal kingdom, polyploidy is abnormal and often fatal.

Derived Forms

• ˌpolyˈploidal, adjective
• ˈpolyˌploidy, noun

Other Words From

• poly·ploidic adjective
• poly·ploidy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyploid¹

First recorded in 1915–20; poly- + -ploid

Example Sentences

A breakthrough aspect of the new study is that for the first time the researchers harnessed the clonal sex cells to engineer offspring through a process they call "polyploid genome design."

From Science Daily

However, newly formed polyploid plants are often sterile or have reduced fertility and are unsuitable for breeding resistant lines.

From Science Daily

PlantServation also enabled the scientists to experimentally replicate what happens after the natural speciation of a hybrid polyploid species.

From Science Daily

But polyploid organisms have all of the DNA from both parents, meaning they have twice as much DNA.

From NewsForKids.net

Since then, the two scientists’ fascination with polyploid cells has only grown.

From Science Magazine