1. A condition in which cells of an organism contain multiple copies of chromosomes without undergoing cell division, resulting in polyploid nuclei within a single cell.
Usage: biology; genetics; technical term

Examples

• Endopolyploidy is common in plant tissues, where cells may become polyploid to increase their size and function.
• The liver cells of many animals exhibit endopolyploidy, with nuclei containing 4n or 8n chromosome sets.
• Researchers observed endopolyploidy in the developing fruit tissues of the tomato plant.
• Endopolyploidy allows certain cells to grow larger without dividing, enhancing their metabolic capacity.
• The phenomenon of endopolyploidy contributes to the giant cells found in some plant species.