Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: March 15, 2018
Tetraploids or polyploid giants: who is truly dangerous?
Mathew Bloomfield1, Shivam Vora2, Dinethra Epa3
1Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
None:
Tetraploidy, resulting from a single whole-genome duplication (WGD) event, contributes to tumorigenesis by promoting genomic instability and functional diversity. In general, WGD beyond tetraploidy limits proliferative and tumorigenic potential, but an increasing number of studies suggest that polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs)-large, highly polyploid (≥8N) cells formed in response to chemotherapy-produce daughter cells with reduced DNA content that drive cancer progression. In this opinion article, we examine the literature on tetraploid cells and PGCCs from a cell biology perspective. It is our opinion that the role of tetraploidy in cancer is supported by findings from cell lines, animal models, and tumor sequencing data, while definitive evidence that viable progeny from PGCCs can promote cancer progression in human tumors is lacking.
Related Concept Videos
Formation of Species
Trihybrid Crosses
Some of Mendel’s crosses examined three pairs of contrasting characteristics. Such a cross is called a trihybrid cross. A trihybrid cross is a combination of three individual monohybrid crosses. For example, plant height (tall vs. short), seed shape (round vs. wrinkled), and seed color (yellow vs. green).
The F1 generation plants of a trihybrid cross are heterozygous for all three traits and produce eight gametes. Upon self-fertilization, these gametes have an equal...
Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction
Polytene Chromosomes

