noun
- Organisms, especially plants, that have more than two complete sets of chromosomes derived from two or more different species.
Usage: biology; genetics; plural form of allopolyploid
Examples
- Many crop species, including wheat and cotton, are allopolyploids that arose from hybridization events.
- Allopolyploids often exhibit greater genetic diversity than their parent species.
- The formation of allopolyploids can lead to instant reproductive isolation between populations.
- Scientists study allopolyploids to understand how new species evolve in nature.
- Allopolyploids are common in flowering plants and have played an important role in plant evolution.