HETEROPLOIDY Meaning and
Definition
-
Heteroploidy is a term used in genetics to describe a condition where an organism has an abnormal number of chromosomes, or an abnormal arrangement of chromosome sets in its cells. It refers to a situation where there is a deviation from the normal diploid chromosome number, which is characteristic of most organisms. Heteroploidy can occur in both plants and animals.
In heteroploidy, the abnormality can manifest in different ways. One common form is euploidy, where the organism has more than the usual two sets of chromosomes (polyploidy) or less than two sets (aneuploidy). Polyploidy can occur when an entire set of chromosomes is duplicated, resulting in three or more complete sets. Aneuploidy, on the other hand, typically arises due to errors in chromosome distribution during cell division, leading to the presence of an extra or missing chromosome.
Heteroploidy can have significant consequences for an organism's development, growth, and reproduction. In some cases, it can lead to severe abnormalities, such as physical or developmental defects. However, not all heteroploidy results in detrimental effects, and some organisms can tolerate or even benefit from genetic variations caused by heteroploidy.
Understanding heteroploidy is crucial for genetic research and diagnosing various genetic disorders. Geneticists study different forms of heteroploidy to comprehend the mechanisms and consequences of chromosomal abnormalities and their impact on an organism's phenotype.
Common Misspellings for HETEROPLOIDY
- geteroploidy
- beteroploidy
- neteroploidy
- jeteroploidy
- ueteroploidy
- yeteroploidy
- hwteroploidy
- hsteroploidy
- hdteroploidy
- hrteroploidy
- h4teroploidy
- h3teroploidy
- hereroploidy
- heferoploidy
- hegeroploidy
- heyeroploidy
- he6eroploidy
- he5eroploidy
- hetwroploidy
Etymology of HETEROPLOIDY
The word "heteroploidy" is derived from two main roots: "hetero-" and "-ploidy".
1. "Hetero-" comes from the Greek word "heteros", which means "different" or "other". It is commonly used as a prefix in scientific terminology to indicate difference or dissimilarity.
2. "-Ploidy" is a suffix that refers to the number of sets of chromosomes in a cell or organism. It is derived from the Greek word "ploion", meaning "a fold" or "a lot".
Therefore, "heteroploidy" combines "hetero-" (different) with "-ploidy" (chromosome sets), resulting in a term used to describe a condition where an organism has an abnormal number of chromosome sets, different from the usual or normal diploid condition.
Similar spelling words for HETEROPLOIDY
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
