Also the prefix for organisms that are heterozygotes. It means they have two copies of each chromosome which are independantly segragated during mitosis. This means more genetic material, which is both a blessing and a burden. Sex is possible with diploidy, since each parent contributes one copy (sperm and eggs are haploid cells). Of course, bacteria don't have this problem since they do something different.

Dip"loid (?), n. [Gr. twofold + -oid.] Crystallog.

A solid bounded by twenty-four similar quadrilateral faces. It is a hemihedral form of the hexoctahedron.

 

© Webster 1913.

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