What is the result of autopolyploidy in an organism?

Autopolyploidy occurs when an organism gains one or more extra sets of chromosomes, all derived from the same species. The process typically results from errors during cell division, particularly during meiosis, where chromosome duplication happens without subsequent division. As a result, the organism ends up with a complete set of chromosomes that is multiplied, effectively resulting in multiple copies of the same genome. This can enhance genetic variation and potentially lead to speciation, as the new individuals may exhibit traits that differ from their diploid relatives.

In contrast, other concepts such as allopolyploidy, which involves combining chromosome sets from different species, do not apply here. Autopolyploidy is specific to the duplication of chromosomes within a single species, making the correct answer particularly pertinent to that definition. Additionally, while polyploidy can sometimes lead to harmful mutations, this is not a defining characteristic, as many autopolyploid organisms can be viable and even advantageous in certain environments.