Digyny (also digynia) refers to the process of a diploid ovum becoming fertilized by a haploid sperm. The result of digyny is a triploid zygote. In humans, both gametes (ovum and sperm) are normally haploid and give rise to a diploid zygote.[1]

Digyny results in gestational abnormalities in humans, including an abnormally small placenta and a very growth-restricted fetus. As a result, the majority of triploid pregnancies are spontaneously aborted. The incidence rate of a live-born triploid human is approximately 1 in 50,000.

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References

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  1. ^ Thomas Lathrop Stedman (2001). Stedman's Medical Speller. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-3085-3.