Three Cases of Triploidy in Man

Abstract

A premature baby of 32 weeks gestation and weighing 1.7 kg (3 lb 12 oz), with a defect in each iris and anomalous genitalia, showed XXY triploidy on chromosome analysis. Extensive blood grouping was consistent with both digyny and diandry, but the former was more likely. Two abortuses, received as part of a survey of spontaneous abortions, revealed XXX triploidy on tissue culture. One showed a fusion defect of the neural tube; both showed late or defective fusion of the embryonic cleft of the iris. In both a small proportion of nuclei in the amnion showed two Barr bodies. In two cases in which measurements of nuclear volume were made this was about 50% greater than in diploid controls.