aneuploidy and polyploidy

[sungyaeji]

hi.
could you please explain me the answers to this question:
why aneuploidy is more problemetic than polyploidy?

i know that aneuploidy is missing/extra chromosomes and it can lead unequal distrubution of chromosomes. is that why it is more problemetic because in polyploidy is extra sets, therefore chromosomes blance out since it is a change as a whole set of chromosomes.

please feel free to correct any errors and modify my answer

[JackBean]

yes, your answer is rigth, if I understand correct what you mean

[carmodyf]

Hello wow this is a very late response...but I'm procrastinating so I'll attempt to answer your question nonetheless from my recent, rather basic understanding of studying aneuploidy for the past 3 hours (am doing a research assignment on it...and am fascinated!) Anyway, enough gabbling!

I would suspect that aneuploidy is far more problematic than polyploidy because there are different types (monosomy and trisomy) and it can occur in sex chromosomes or autosomes...AND there are different causes (non-disjunction, translocation errors, mitosis separation failures in early embryos). Plus there are a whole range of syndromes associated with each of these types (i.e. Jacob Syndrome is an aneuploid condition in the sex chromosomes where there is an extra y chromosome- that is, the male has the sex chromosomes: XYY. This is a trisomic aneuploid condition because there is an extra copy of the y sex chromosome...I think that's right... )

Anyway, in comparison, polyploidy is as you say "extra sets" of chromosomes within the cells... however it is simpler as there are only two types; allopolyploidy (two different species) and autopolyploidy (within the same species). This process comes as a result of non-disjunction or failure of the cell to divide after chromatid separation. I don't really think the chromosomes "balance out" as there can be an irregular number (3N) and this doesn't balance...and actually if there are genetic mutations then you can expect the chromosomes to not match up i guess. If that makes sense...
The fact that it is extremely rare for humans, and only normally observed in hermaphroditic animals and/or ones that undergo parthenogenesis like flatworms, shrimp, salamanders, earthworms... and that it is far more common in plants suggests that this condition has not been able to adapt to higher life forms and so, isn't as complex or problematic. It only concerns the duplication of all chromosomes, not the absence or excessiveness of certain chromosomes.

I really hope this helps and that the information isn't too late. I apologise profusely if my assumptions are incorrect...so please correct any mistakes!!

Kind regards,
An intrepid young biology student

[*Inexplicable acknowledgement it to be given to my biozone textbook "Genes & Inheritance: by T. Greenwood, L. Shepherd, R. Allan & D. Butler… sorry if I inaptly interpreted your information!]