What does autopolyploid mean?
An autopolyploid is an organism or cell that carries three or more complete sets of chromosomes, with every set originating from the same species. This condition usually arises when a cell fails to divide properly during reproduction, doubling the entire genome within a single lineage. Autopolyploidy is common in plants — notable examples include the cultivated potato and alfalfa — where it often produces larger cells and can affect fertility, since extra chromosome copies pair irregularly during meiosis. The term is used almost exclusively in genetics, botany, and evolutionary biology, appearing both as a noun and as an adjective describing species or populations. It is distinguished from allopolyploidy, in which the duplicated chromosome sets come from different species through hybridization. Recognizing whether a polyploid is auto- or alloploid is important for understanding how new plant species form and how breeders manage crop traits such as yield and disease resistance.
An organism or cell having three or more complete chromosome sets, all derived from a single species.
"Autopolyploids often show reduced fertility because their extra homologous chromosomes pair unpredictably during meiosis."
Plural: autopolyploids.
Relating to or characteristic of organisms whose multiple chromosome sets derive from the same species.
"Autopolyploid speciation is thought to be widespread among flowering plants."
Typically used attributively, as in 'autopolyploid species'.
Standard English plural; applies only to the noun sense.
"Many crop autopolyploids were selected by farmers long before their genetics were understood."
Your lunchtime potato is an autopolyploid — every cell carries four copies of its ancestor's entire genome.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does autopolyploid come from?
The word combines three elements of Greek origin: 'auto-' meaning self, 'poly-' meaning many, and '-ploid' derived from Greek 'eidos', meaning form or set, referring to chromosome sets. It was coined in early twentieth-century scientific German alongside related terms like 'haploid' and 'diploid' as cytogeneticists began counting chromosomes microscopically. Its closest relative is 'allopolyploid', which shares the 'poly-ploid' suffix but replaces 'auto-' with Greek 'allos' (other). The abstract noun is 'autopolyploidy'.
Related word forms
How autopolyploid is actually used
Strictly a technical term of genetics and botany; rarely encountered outside scientific literature. Used both as a noun (an organism that is one) and attributively as an adjective (an 'autopolyploid species').
Easily confused with autopolyploid
An allopolyploid's chromosome sets come from two or more different species (usually via hybridization), whereas an autopolyploid's sets all come from the same species.