Hexaploid Fern (IMAGE)

Indiana University

Hexaploid Fern

Caption

Polyploidy is important in the origin of new plant species and has caused some species to have an astoundingly large number of chromosomes. This photograph is a "chromosome squash" of a hexaploid (six genome copies) fern species of the genus Cystopteris. This species has 126 pairs of chromosomes.

Credit

Michael Windham

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.