You searched for: “polymorphism
polymorphism
1. The assumption of various distinct forms by a single organism or species.
2. In cytomorphology, variation in the size and shape of cells or nuclei.
3. In chemistry, crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms.
4. In biology, the occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individual organisms or in organisms of the same species, independent of gender variations.
5. In zoology, the characteristics of assuming or passing through several forms, as an animal exhibiting seasonal changes in coloration.
6. In mineralogy, the occurrence in a mineral of two or more distinct crystal forms of identical chemical composition.
Word Entries containing the term: “polymorphism
amplified fragment length polymorphism (s) (noun), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (pl)
A rapid method for detecting variations in DNA sequences between individuals, using the polymerase chain reaction technique which involves a process in molecular genetics that permits the analysis of any short sequence of DNA (or RNA) even in samples that contain exceptionally small quantities of DNA or RNA.
This entry is located in the following unit: ampli-, ampl- (page 1)
Word Entries at Get Words: “polymorphism
polymorphism
With social insects, the co-existence of two or more functionally different castes within the same sex.

In ants it is possible to define polymorphism somewhat more precisely as the occurrence of nonisometric relative growth occurring over a sufficient range of size variation within a normal mature colony to produce individuals of distinctly different proportions at the extremes of the size range.

This entry is located in the following unit: Ant and Related Entomology Terms (page 16)