Describing a cell or organism that has multiple complete sets of chromosomes within its cells due to DNA replication without cell division.
From endo- 'within' + polyploid (poly- 'many' + -ploid from Greek ploos 'fold'). The term emerged in 20th-century genetics to describe cells with replicated DNA.
Many insects intentionally become endopolyploid—fruit fly salivary glands can reach 1,000 copies of their DNA in a single cell, creating massive chromosomes visible under a regular microscope, which is how scientists first discovered genes.
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