variation

variation /var·i·a·tion/ (var?e-a´shun) the act or process of changing; in genetics, deviation in characters in an individual from the group to which it belongs or deviation in characters of the offspring from those of its parents.

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antigenic variation  a mechanism by which parasites can escape the immune surveillance of a host by modifying or completely altering their surface antigens.

microbial variation  the range of characteristics with a species used in identification and differentiation.

phenotypic variation  the total variation, for whatever cause, observed in one character.

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var·i·a·tion (vâr-shn, vr-)

n.

1. The act, process, or result of varying.

2. The state or fact of being varied.

3. The extent or degree to which something varies.

4. Something that is slightly different from another of the same type.

5. Marked difference or deviation from the normal or recognized form, function, or structure.

6. An organism exhibiting such difference or deviation.

7. A function that relates the values of one variable to those of other variables.

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variation (genetic),

n deviation from the genotype in structure, form, physiology, or behavior.

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variation

divergence among individual animals of a group. The differences in the morphology or function of an organ or organism, are small enough to stay within the variability of the type organism or organ.