Practice question

Polyploidy refers to condition carrying more than two chromosome sets, for example triploid 3n, tetraploid 4n, hexaploid 6n, arising via failure of mitotic or meiotic division or interspecific hybridisation. Autopolyploids duplicate same genome, allopolyploids combine distinct parental genomes. Extra dosage influences gene expression, cell size, fertility and adaptation, exploited in agriculture for wheat, potato and cotton. One set monoploid, two diploid, only sex chromosomes irrelevant, whole-genome multiplication represents major evolutionary mechanism. Understanding this mechanism aids pedigree analysis, Punnett predictions, linkage mapping and appreciating evolutionary conservation across taxa.