Polyploidy

Polyploidy

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 A permanent change in the number of chromosome sets found in living cells.  Once this change has occurred, it can be passed on when an organism breeds.  The occurrence of polyploidy is a mechanism of speciation.  Polyploids are most commonly found in plants and crops, but can also be found in certain groups of fish and amphibians.

Examples

apples, bananas, watermelon, goldfish, salmon, salamanders

 Types

Autopolyploidy-  chromosome doubling within a species.

Allopolyploidy-  hybridization, followed by chromosome doubling.

Woodhouse, M., Burkart-Waco, D. & Comai, L. (2009) Polyploidy. Nature Education 2(1):1