Question

What is the primary characteristic of polyploidy?

Options

• Rearrangement of chromosome segments

• Loss of a single chromosome

• Increase in the number of entire chromosome sets

• Gain of a single chromosome

Answer 1

Polyploidy, also called euploidy, is characterized by an increase in the number of entire chromosome sets (3n, 4n, 6n, etc.). Examples include triploidy (3n) and tetraploidy (4n). This is very common in plants, where it can increase size and vigor, but is generally lethal in animals as dosage compensation mechanisms cannot accommodate multiple chromosome sets.