In 1978 it was demonstrated that triploid newts could be induced experimentally by fertilizing heat-shocked eggs from diploid mothers; it was discovered that the heat shock treatment caused retention of the second polar body to produce a diploid egg.

Where can triploidy be found?

Triploidy is encountered occasionally in natural populations of flowering plants containing diploid (2n) and tetraploid (4n) plants. It is presumed that such triploids arise by natural crosses between diploid and tetraploid plants in the same population.

Has anyone survived triploidy?

A handful of babies with triploidy have lived a few days or months after birth, with the longest known survivor living 10 1/2 months. 3 But these reports are rare, and usually, the babies who survive longer have mosaic triploidy, rather than full triploidy.