polymorphism /poly·mor·phism/ (-mor´fizm) the quality of existing in several different forms.
polymorphism
polymorphism [pol″e-mor´fizm]
balanced polymorphism an equilibrium mixture of homozygotes and heterozygotes maintained by natural selection against both homozygotes.
pol·y·mor·phism (p l  -môr f z m)n. 1. The occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individual organisms or in organisms of the same species, independent of sexual variations. 2. Crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Also called pleomorphism. pol y·morphic, poly·morphous adj. |
polymorphism
[pol′ēmôr′fizəm]
Etymology: Gk, polys + morphe, form
1 the state or quality of existing or occurring in several different forms.
2 the state or quality of appearing in different forms at different stages of development. Kinds of polymorphism are balanced polymorphism and genetic polymorphism. polymorphic, adj.
polymorphism [pol″e-mor´fizm]
the ability to exist in several different forms.
balanced polymorphism an equilibrium mixture of homozygotes and heterozygotes maintained by natural selection against both homozygotes.
genetic polymorphism the occurrence together in the same population of two or more genetically determined phenotypes in such proportions that the rarest of them cannot be maintained merely by recurrent mutation.
single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) a genetic polymorphism between two genomes that is based on deletion, insertion, or exchange of a single nucleotide.
polymorphism
the quality of existing in several different forms.
balanced polymorphism
an equilibrium mixture of homozygotes and heterozygotes maintained by natural selection against both homozygotes.
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