Polyploidy in Nature: Chromosome Doubling Across Plants and Animals #3545742 (License: Personal Use)

The central diagram illustrates somatic chromosome doubling (2n → 4x) via cell fusion or unreduced gametes, a process common in angiosperms and some vertebrates. Surrounding organisms-including ferns (often ancient polyploids), passionflower and fireweed (known polyploid species), Atlantic salmon (with evidence of ancestral genome duplication), and the checkered whiptail lizard (an all-female parthenogenetic polyploid)-highlight the ecological and evolutionary significance of genome duplication. Two gray spores likely represent meiotic products or gametophytes reinforcing the life-cycle context.

Used in educational biology resources, university lecture slides, or science outreach pages explaining genome evolution, speciation, and comparative cytogenetics; targets students, educators, and curious learners seeking visual reinforcement of polyploidy concepts.