$HoH{$counter} = { holder => [@newholder], individual => [ @newind ], chromasome1 => [ @newchroma ], chromasome2 => [ @newchromb ], }; #### counter: 1 Holder: 1 chroma:val chromb:val counter: 1 Holder: 2 chroma:val ... counter: 1 Holder: 3 chroma:val ... ... ... ... counter: 2 Holder: 1 ... counter: 2 Holder: 2 counter: 2 Holder: 3 ... ...