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Characterized by or pertaining to polyploidy.
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poly·ploid 'päl-i-.plȯid adj having or being a chromosome number that is a multiple greater than two of the monoploid number
polyploid n a polyploid individual
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adj.
describing cells, tissues, or individuals in which there are three or more complete sets of chromosomes. Compare diploid, haploid.
• polyploidy n.
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poly·ploid (polґe-ploid) [poly- + haploid] 1. having more than two full sets of homologous chromosomes. There may be three (triploid), four (tetraploid), five (pentaploid), six (hexaploid), seven (heptaploid), eight (octaploid), etc. 2. an individual or cell having more than two full sets of homologous chromosomes. Polyploid organisms, especially plants, are larger than normal and have larger cells. Affected animals are often abnormal in appearance and usually infertile. Cf. aneuploid.Medical dictionary. 2011.