The method used to identify the number of sets of
chromosomes within a
cell or
organism (i.e. its
ploidy). Each set is designated "n" so one set is n is haploid, two sets is 2n is
diploid, three sets is 3n is
triploid, four sets is 4n is
tetraploid, etc. Also, 2n+1 is known as
trisomy (i.e. two full sets plus a third copy of one of the chromosomes).
From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.