What does monoploid mean?
Monoploid describes a cell or organism that possesses one complete set of chromosomes. This is the basic chromosome-set condition found in many cells and in the reproductive stages of sexually reproducing organisms, although the term is used mainly in genetics and related biological fields. In a monoploid cell, the chromosomes represent one genome rather than the paired sets typical of a diploid cell or the multiple sets found in a polyploid cell. The word is closely related in meaning to haploid, which is the more familiar general term. Monoploid is especially useful in scientific contexts when the number of chromosome sets is the central point of comparison. Its related noun, monoploidy, names the state of having a single chromosome set. The term is not generally used for everyday descriptions of living things, except in educational, laboratory, or biological writing.
Having or consisting of a single complete set of chromosomes.
"The laboratory maintained the cells in a monoploid condition."
A cell or organism possessing one complete set of chromosomes.
"The yeast strain was a monoploid and therefore carried only one set of chromosomes."
The plural is used when referring to multiple cells or organisms that each possess one complete set of chromosomes.
"The researchers compared several monoploids under different growth conditions."
In a monoploid, the complete genetic instructions for an organism are carried in just one set of chromosomes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monoploid come from?
Monoploid combines Greek monos, meaning “single,” with the genetic combining form -ploid, which indicates a number of chromosome sets. The term belongs to the scientific vocabulary developed during the study of chromosome-set number, alongside related terms such as haploid, diploid, and polyploid. Its modern form reflects the systematizing influence of biological terminology in the early twentieth century.
Related word forms
How monoploid is actually used
Monoploid is primarily a technical genetics term. In general biological usage, haploid is more common; monoploid can be useful when the single-set condition is being emphasized.
Easily confused with monoploid
Haploid is the more common general term for a cell or organism with one set of chromosomes, while monoploid explicitly emphasizes the single-set condition.