hypoploid /hī″pəploid/ [Gk, hypo + eidos, form] , 1. n., an individual, organism, strain, or cell that has fewer than the haploid number or than an exact multiple of the haploid number of chromosomes characteristic of the species. The result is one or more unbalanced sets of chromosomes, which are referred to as hypodiploid, hypotriploid, hypotetraploid, and so on, depending on the number of multiples of the haploid chromosomes they contain. 2. adj., pertaining to such an individual, organism, strain, or cell. Also called hypoploidic. Compare hyperploid. See also monosomy. −hypoploidy, n.
