Aneuploidy is a chromosomal abnormality in which an individual has an abnormal number of chromosomes, typically arising from nondisjunction during cell division. It often results in developmental anomalies or disease, with one or more extra or missing chromosomes. The term is used in genetics, embryology, and medicine to describe deviations from the normal diploid chromosome count.
"The study of aneuploidy helps explain many congenital disorders."
"Aneuploidy is a common cause of miscarriages in early pregnancy."
"Researchers are investigating how aneuploidy affects fetal development."
"Karyotyping can reveal aneuploidy in patient samples."
Aneuploidy comes from Greek an- ‘not, without’ + Greek eu- ‘good, well’ and ploidy from Greek ploidos ‘folded, having folds’ and by extension ‘having chromosomes’ in biology. The term first emerged in the 20th century with advances in cytogenetics. It blends a prefix that negates normality (an-) with ploidy, the concept describing chromosome set number. In genetics, euploidy denotes the normal chromosome count; aneuploidy signals a deviation. Early 1900s research on chromosome behavior in meiosis and mitosis laid the groundwork, but the word gained clinical traction after the discovery that numerical chromosomal abnormalities underlie several congenital conditions. Over time, the term has become essential in diagnostic karyotyping, prenatal screening, and oncology where aneuploidy patterns influence prognosis and treatment response. The word reflects a precise contrast to euploidy and is now a standard descriptor across medicine and biology.
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Words that rhyme with "Aneuploidy"
-ity sounds
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Aneuploidy is pronounced /ˌæn.juˈplɔɪ.di/ in US, /ˌæn.juˈplɔɪ.di/ in UK, and /ˌæn.juˈplɔɪ.di/ in AU. The primary stress is on the third syllable: an-eu-PLoi-dy. Break it into four parts: an- (unstressed), eu- (semically stressed), plo- (stressed), dy (unstressed). The /ju/ often surfaces as a quick y-glide after the first vowel cluster. Practice by isolating syllables: an - eu - ploi - dy, then blend with a light, even tempo.
Common errors include misplacing the stress on the first or second syllable (an-PLoi-dy or an-eu-plo-dy) and mispronouncing the /plɔɪ/ cluster as /ploʊ/ or /plɔː/; the sequence /ˈplɔɪ/ should be concise with a short, crisp /ɔɪ/ glide. Another frequent mistake is inserting an extra syllable between eu and plo, saying ‘an-eu-plo-idy’ too slowly. Correct by practicing the four-syllable rhythm: an - eu - ploi - dy, with a steady, light secondary stress on eu and a clear, tight /ɔɪ/ diphthong.
Across US/UK/AU, the core vowels stay similar: /ˌæn.juˈplɔɪ.di/. The main difference lies in rhoticity and vowel quality: US is rhotic, but /ˌæn.ju/ uses a more pronounced /j/ glide and the /ɔɪ/ diphthong may sound tighter in some US speakers. UK tends to a slightly sharper /ə/ or /ju/ realization after an-, and AU often has a broader vowel quality with a more relaxed /ɔɪ/. Overall, the syllable structure and primary stress remain consistent; listen for the /ɔɪ/ diphthong and keep the emphasis on the third syllable.
The difficulty comes from the double vowel cluster eu-/pl- and the /ɔɪ/ diphthong in the third syllable. The sequence an- (unstressed) + eu- (unstressed but salient) + ploi- requires precise tongue position: a light /j/ glide between the first two vowels and a crisp /pl/ cluster before the /ɔɪ/. Maintaining even syllable timing and avoiding insertion of extra vowels helps; practice the four-syllable rhythm slowly, then speed up while preserving accuracy.
Aneuploidy often involves the third syllable, but why is the /ju/ sequence after an- tricky? Because the prefix eu- historically combines with ploidy to form a consonant and vowel blend that can blur in rapid speech. Focus on the combined /ju/ sequence: pronounce it as a single light y-glide after /næ/ and before /plɔɪ/. In careful speech, you’ll hear a distinct transition between the /n/ and /j/; in rapid speech, that link can compress. IPA cues: /ˌæn.juˈplɔɪ.di/.
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