In eukaryotic organisms, chromosomes come in sets. The somatic cells, called soma, usually have a diploid chromosome number, which in scientific notation is abbreviated as 2N. The diploid state contains two sets of chromosomes, one set of which has...

The analysis of plant and animal cells shows that chromosomes are present in homologous pairs, with each member of the pair carrying very similar or identical genes. In humans, for example, there are forty-six chromosomes, but these can be grouped into...

Polyploidy is the condition of some biological cells and organisms manifested by the presence of more than two homologous sets of chromosomes. Polyploid types are termed according to the number of chromosome sets in the nucleus: triploid (three sets;...

Polyploidy is an evolutionary process whereby two or more genomes are brought together into the same nucleus, usually by hybridization followed by chromosome doubling. As a result, the new polyploid is genetically isolated from its diploid progenitors) and a new species is formed. The...

Lost flowering plant species have more than two sets of chromosomes, a condition termed polyploidy (Bennett & Leitch 1997). Researchers have found that 70% or more of all flowering plants, and some 90% of ferns, contain three or more sets of chromosomes (Masterson 1994;...