pol·y·mor·phism

(pŏl′ē-môr′fĭz′əm)

1. Biology The occurrence of more than one form, as several alleles of a particular gene or winged and wingless forms of the same species.

2. Chemistry Crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Also called pleomorphism.

pol′y·mor′phic, pol′y·mor′phous adj.

pol′y·mor′phous·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	polymorphic - relating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms; "polymorphous crystallization" polymorphous chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions
	2.	polymorphic - relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population; "a polymorphic species" polymorphous biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms
	3.	polymorphic - having or occurring in several distinct forms; "man is both polymorphic and polytypic"; "a polymorphous god" polymorphous multiform - occurring in or having many forms or shapes or appearances; "the multiform universe of nature and man"- John Dewey

polymorphic

adjective

Biology. Consisting of a number of different kinds:

assorted, divers, diverse, diversified, heterogeneous, miscellaneous, mixed, motley, multifarious, multiform, sundry, varied, variegated, various.

Biology: polymorphous.

Translations

polymorphic

[ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪk] ADJ → polimorfo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

polymorphic

adj → polymorph, vielgestaltig

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Variations neither useful nor injurious would not be affected by natural selection, and would be left a fluctuating element, as perhaps we see in the species called polymorphic.

View in context

Although DNA markers like AFLPs and microsatellites are preferred for genetic diversity study due to their informativeness, Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis has also been broadly employed to analyze the genetic diversity because it has a universal set of primers, no prior work such as probe isolation, or nucleotide sequencing is necessary (Hadrys et al., 1992).

GENETIC DIVERSITY IN DRAGON FRUIT (HYLOCEREUS SP) GERMPLASMS REVEALED BY RAPD MARKER

Polyverse Corporation has begun providing free subscriptions to its polymorphic version of Linux to open source projects.

POLYVERSE DONATES MTD TECH TO OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS

To the Editor: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) often occurs in children or adolescents without organic heart diseases.

Investigation of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Children in China: Clinical Characteristics, Delay to Diagnosis, and Misdiagnosis

Sequence analysis were revealed seven polymorphic site (G1072A, T1081C, T1131G, T1143C, T1145G, T1151G and C1221T) and one monomorphic site (C1071T) in Anatolian water buffaloes.

Nucleotide Polymorphism of Leptin Gene in Anatolian Water Buffaloes

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the polymorphic variation in CHRM2 gene (rs6962027) and CHRMS gene (rs7511970) in relation to early- and late-onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Polymorphisms in the Cholinergic Receptors Muscarinic (CHRM2 and CHRM3) Genes and Alzheimer's Disease

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is a rhythm disorder that develops in relation with genetic causes in the absence of structural heart disease.

A rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

I couldn't believe what had happened to me." Dr Emma Wedgeworth, a consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesman, said: "We see a number of skin reactions which can be related to the sun, including polymorphic light eruption.

A burning issue for sunbathers; Healthy YOU

For a total of 416 polymorphic loci showing Mendelian segregation were generated from 71 AFLP primer combinations.

A Genetic Linkage Map of Phalaenopsis-based on AFLP Markers and the "Two-way Pseudo-testcross" Mapping Strategy

in RAPD analyses, 35 out of 38 bands (92%) were polymorphic. The different primers produce a number of amplifications ranging from 2 to 7, the size of the amplified fragments ranging from 100 to 1600 bp.

Molecular characterization of genetic variation in algeria durum wheat accessions (Triticum durum desf.) using rapd and issr markers

Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) markers can be defined as DNA polymorphisms produced due to 'rearrangements or deletions at or between two close primer binding sites in the genome'(Welsh & McClelland, 1990, Williams, Kubelik, Livak, Rafalski, & Tingey, 1990).

Molecular markers associated with the agronomic traits in the medicinal plant lemon balm/Marcadores moleculares associados aos tragos agronomicos na planta medicinal erva cidreira