1. A condition in which an organism has chromosome sets derived from two or more different species, typically resulting from hybridization followed by chromosome doubling.
Usage: technical; biology; genetics

Examples

• Allopolyploidy is common in plants and has played a major role in crop evolution.
• Wheat is a classic example of a species that arose through allopolyploidy.
• The scientist studied allopolyploidy to understand how new plant species form in nature.
• Allopolyploidy can occur when two different plant species hybridize and their chromosomes double.
• Many commercially important crops owe their existence to ancient allopolyploidy events.