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Related Concept Videos

Nondisjunction01:21

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers.  Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis.  Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
Nondisjunction01:29

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.
Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Polytene Chromosomes02:04

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...
Polytene Chromosomes02:04

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...
Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 15, 2018

Endoreplication and polyploidy: insights into development and disease.

Donald T Fox1, Robert J Duronio

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, and Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA. don.fox@duke.edu

Development (Cambridge, England)
|December 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Polyploid cells, with extra chromosome sets, are vital in development across many species. Research shows these cells are crucial for normal growth and are implicated in human diseases like cancer.

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Last Updated: May 16, 2026

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans
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07:27

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Establishment of Proliferative Tetraploid Cells from Nontransformed Human Fibroblasts
10:04

Establishment of Proliferative Tetraploid Cells from Nontransformed Human Fibroblasts

Published on: January 8, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Polyploid cells possess more than two complete sets of chromosomes.
  • Their presence is conserved across diverse organisms, from plants to animals.
  • Understanding polyploidy's role is key to comprehending fundamental biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the conserved mechanisms governing polyploid cell generation.
  • To elucidate the physiological functions of cellular polyploidy.
  • To investigate the connection between polyploidy and human diseases, especially cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis across various species.
  • Investigating developmental systems in both plant and animal models.
  • Utilizing cellular and molecular biology techniques to study polyploid cells.

Main Results:

  • Identified evolutionarily conserved pathways controlling polyploidy.
  • Demonstrated critical roles of polyploidy in normal development.
  • Established a link between cellular polyploidy and the progression of human cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular polyploidy is a fundamental biological feature with conserved regulatory mechanisms.
  • Polyploidy is essential for normal development and physiological functions.
  • Aberrant polyploidy is a significant factor in human disease pathogenesis, notably in oncology.