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Liver cells of humans may be triploid (3n), tetraploid (4n), or even octaploid (8n). This phenomenon is best described as:

a) Polyploidy
b) Monoploidy
c) Haploidy
d) Aneuploidy

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Liver cells with more than two sets of chromosomes are an example of polyploidy, a condition common in plants but rare in animals, often leading to infertility in animals due to meiotic complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenon of liver cells in humans being triploid (3n), tetraploid (4n), or octaploid (8n) is best described as polyploidy. Polyploidy refers to the condition in which an individual has more than two complete sets of chromosomes. While polyploidy is extremely rare in animals, with few examples among flatworms, crustaceans, amphibians, fish, and lizards, it is quite common in plants. In the plant kingdom, those with polyploidy often exhibit enhanced size and robustness compared to their euploid counterparts. Unlike plants, polyploid animals frequently face challenges with meiosis, which can result in infertility due to the production of mostly aneuploid daughter cells that are incapable of yielding viable zygotes.

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