What term describes an organism with extra sets of chromosomes?

Prepare for your Honors Biology Final Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions complete with hints and explanations. Score high on your exam!

Multiple Choice

What term describes an organism with extra sets of chromosomes?

Explanation:
Having extra sets of chromosomes is polyploidy. This describes cells or organisms that possess more than the usual two complete chromosome sets (2n), such as triploidy (3n) or tetraploidy (4n). Polyploidy is common in plants and can arise when genomes duplicate or through hybridization between species, leading to instant changes in fertility and cell size. It’s different from the other terms: a genome is the total genetic material, an autosome is any non-sex chromosome, and a sex-linked gene is located on a sex chromosome.

Having extra sets of chromosomes is polyploidy. This describes cells or organisms that possess more than the usual two complete chromosome sets (2n), such as triploidy (3n) or tetraploidy (4n). Polyploidy is common in plants and can arise when genomes duplicate or through hybridization between species, leading to instant changes in fertility and cell size. It’s different from the other terms: a genome is the total genetic material, an autosome is any non-sex chromosome, and a sex-linked gene is located on a sex chromosome.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy