polymorphism

pol·y·mor·phism  (pl-môrfzm)

n.

1. Biology The occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individual organisms or in organisms of the same species, independent of sexual variations.

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

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poly·morphic, poly·morphous adj.

poly·morphous·ly adv.

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polymorphism [ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪzəm]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) Biology

a.  the occurrence of more than one form of individual in a single species within an interbreeding population

b.  the occurrence of more than one form in the individual polyps of a coelenterate colony

2. (Chemistry) the existence or formation of different types of crystal of the same chemical compound

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polymorphism  (pl-môrfzm)

1. The existence of two or more different forms in an adult organism of the same species, as of an insect. In bees, the presence of queen, worker, and drone is an example of polymorphism. Differences between the sexes and between breeds of domesticated animals are not considered examples of polymorphism.

2. The crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Diamond and graphite, for example, are polymorphs of the element carbon. They both consist entirely of carbon but have different crystal structures and different physical properties.

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polymorphism

the occurrence of several forms or colors in one species of insect. — polymorphous, adj.

See also: Insects

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	polymorphism - (genetics) the genetic variation within a population that natural selection can operate on genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms organic phenomenon - (biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP - (genetics) genetic variation in a DNA sequence that occurs when a single nucleotide in a genome is altered; SNPs are usually considered to be point mutations that have been evolutionarily successful enough to recur in a significant proportion of the population of a species
	2.	polymorphism - (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound pleomorphism chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions chemical phenomenon - any natural phenomenon involving chemistry (as changes to atoms or molecules) dimorphism - (chemistry) the property of certain substances that enables them to exist in two distinct crystalline forms
	3.	polymorphism - (biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences) biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms organic phenomenon - (biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals dimorphism - (biology) the existence of two forms of individual within the same animal species (independent of sex differences)

Translations

polymorphism [ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪzəm] N → polimorfismo m

polymorphism

n → Polymorphismus m