Strength in Numbers
1. Why is polyploidy a potentially “dangerous escapade” for cells? Explain.
2. What does the p53 protein tend to do when the amount of DNA in a cell is
abnormally high?
3. What do polyploid cells do to p53 to become polyploid?
4. What types of adult (not embryonic) human cells commonly show polyploidy?
5. Which of the adult human cells listed above tends to have the highest
chromosome number?
6. For bone marrow cells (megakaryocytes), what are two possible explanations
for why having high numbers of chromosomes would be beneficial?
7. For liver cells, what is one possible explanation for why having high numbers
of chromosomes would be beneficial?
8. Do we really know why polyploidy happens in the cells that show it?