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DNA, RNA, Chromosomes, and Genes

Chromosomes

Can an organism have more than two complete sets of chromosomes?

Having one or more extra sets of chromosomes is known as polyploidy. In humans, it is virtually impossible to survive to adulthood as a polyploidy. Such a condition is more common among plants (in fact, this is a common method by which new plant species arise) and some groups of fish and amphibians; for example, some salamanders, frogs, and leeches are polyploids. But note: polyploids that arise within a species are different from those that arise due to the hybridization of two distinct species; the former are known as autopolyploids and the latter are referred to as allopolyploids.