What do you call an organism that has three sets of chromosomes in its cells?

An organism that has three sets of chromosomes in its cells is referred to as triploid. In terms of chromosome number, ploidy describes the number of sets of chromosomes found in the nucleus of a cell. For example, diploid organisms have two sets of chromosomes, typically one set inherited from each parent.

Triploidy specifically means that there are three complete sets of chromosomes. This can occur naturally in some species, such as certain plants and fish, or can be artificially induced. The presence of three sets can lead to unique reproductive and developmental characteristics, as triploid organisms often exhibit sterility, which can be an advantage for certain cultivation practices where seedless varieties are desired.

Tetraploidy, on the other hand, refers to organisms with four sets of chromosomes, and hexaploidy indicates six sets. Therefore, understanding these different levels of ploidy is essential in genetics and biology to comprehend how they affect an organism's development, reproduction, and evolution.