Lexic.us

Definition of Polymorphism

1. Noun. (genetics) the genetic variation within a population that natural selection can operate on.

2. Noun. (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound.

3. Noun. (biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences).

Definition of Polymorphism

1. n. Same as Pleomorphism.

Definition of Polymorphism

1. Noun. The ability to assume different forms or shapes. ¹

2. Noun. (context: biology) The coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents. ¹

3. Noun. (context: computer science) The feature of object-oriented programming pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for an instance of a method to have several definitions. ¹

4. Noun. (mathematics type theory) The property of certain typed formal systems of allowing for the use of type variables and binders/quantifiers over those type variables; likewise, the property of certain expressions (within such typed formal systems) of making use of at least one such typed variable. ¹

5. Noun. (context: crystallography) The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism. ¹

6. Noun. (genetics) The regular existence of two or more different genotypes within a given species or population; also, variability of amino acid sequences within a gene's protein. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Polymorphism

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Polymorphism

1. 1. The regular and simultaneous occurrence in a single interbreeding population of two or more alleles of a gene, where the frequency of the rarer alleles is greater than can be explained by recurrent mutation alone (typically greater than 1%). The concept includes chromosome polymorphism. HLA alleles of the major histocompatibility complex are very polymorphic. 2. The differentiation of various parts of the units of colonial animals into different types of unit specialised for different purposes, for example as in the colonial hydroid Obelia. (04 Jul 1999)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Polymorphism

polymolecule polymolecules polymorph polymorphean polymorphemic polymorphia polymorphic polymorphic epithelial mucin polymorphic genetic markers polymorphic leaves

polymorphic neuron polymorphic reticulosis polymorphic superficial keratitis polymorphically polymorphies polymorphisms polymorphistic polymorpho- polymorphocellular polymorphocytic leukaemia

polymorphonuclear polymorphonuclear leucocyte polymorphonuclear leukocyte polymorphonuclears polymorphonucleate polymorphonucleated polymorphonucleates polymorphosis polymorphous

Literary usage of Polymorphism

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History by American Museum of Natural History (1907)
"That this is especially true of polymorphism as manifested in the social insects, will, I believe, be evident from a consideration of the facts recorded in ..."

2. The Phase Rule and Its Applications by Alexander Findlay (1908)
"polymorphism.—Reference has just been made to the fact that ice can exist not only in the ordinary form, but in at least two other crystalline varieties. ..."

3. A Treatise on the British Freshwater Algae by George Stephen West (1904)
"polymorphism. polymorphism occurs in most families of Algae. ... It is very doubtful, however, if polymorphism occurs in Algae to the extraordinary extent ..."

4. The Analysis of Racial Descent in Animals by Thomas Harrison Montgomery (1906)
"G. polymorphism OF INDIVIDUALS Under polymorphism is generally understood the presence 1 of more than one kind of individual in a species, ..."

5. The Analysis of Racial Descent in Animals by Thomas Harrison Montgomery (1906)
"G. polymorphism OF INDIVIDUALS Under polymorphism is generally understood the presence of more than one kind of individual in a species, and such a species ..."

6. Division of Labor Among Ants by Edith Nason Buckingham (1911)
"polymorphism OF ANTS. A. polymorphism in General. In order to study satisfactorily the correlation between polymorphism and division of labor, ..."

7. Outlines of Theoretical Chemistry by Lothar Meyer, Peter Phillips Bedson, William Carleton Williams (1899)
"polymorphism.—Dimorphism and polymorphism are common forms of physical isomerism. ... Well- known examples of polymorphism are exhibited by carbon, ..."

8. Statistics and Science: A Festschrift for Terry Speed by T. P. Speed, Darlene Renee Goldstein (2003)
"We were thus led to the hypothesis of an inversion polymorphism in the region, ... This is only the second known common, long inversion polymorphism in the ..."

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