pleio-, plei-, pleo-, pleon-, plio-

1. Producing change in more than one trait; having several pehnotypic effects.
2. Pertaining to a phenotype characterized by multiple features due to a single genetic locus; polyphenic.

1. The presence of multiple, seemingly unrelated, characters due to the action of a single genetic locus; pleiotropy, pleiotropia, polypheny.
2. A condition of being pleiotropic.

A reference to the process whereby a single stimulus can elicit multiple unrelated responses from a living cell.

A reference to a parasite that is not host specific, or a parasite that has several hosts during its life cycle.

Of or belonging to the geologic time, rock series, or sedimentary deposits of the earlier of the two epochs of the Quaternary Period, characterized by the alternate appearance and recession of northern glaciation, the appearance and worldwide spread of hominids, and the extinction of numerous land mammals, such as the mammoths, mastodons, and saber-toothed tigers.

Almost all of the giant mammals, including woolly mammoths, giant wolves, giant ground sloths, and massive wombats disappeared at the end of the Pleistocene epoch and the start of the Holocene epoch.

A reference to the period also called Posttertiary or Glacial Period. Coined from Greek pleistos, "most" and kainos or cene, "new".

Rich in butter as a diet.

1. Showing different colors when viewed from different directions.
2. A reference to a crystal showing different colors when viewed by light polarized in different directions.

1. The property possessed by some crystals of exhibiting different colors, especially three different colors, when viewed along different axes.
2. The phenomenon of different colors appearing when certain crystals are viewed from different directions.
3. An optical phenomenon where due to double refraction of light by a colored gem or crystal, the light is divided into two paths which are polarized at a 90° angle to each other.

As the divided light follows different paths within the stone and are traveling at different speeds, they may have the result of differential selective absorption; therefore, when they leave the crystal they have different colors, making the stone appear to be of multiple colors.

Some stones show two colors or shades and are called dichroic, some show three and are trichroic. Gems are sometimes cut and set either to display pleochroism or to hide it, depending on the colors and their potential attractiveness.

The property possessed by some crystals of transmitting one color in one position and the complementary color in a position at right angles to the first; pleochromatism.

A sub-order of decapod crustaceans.

These taxa are united by a number of features, the most important of which is that the fertilized eggs are incubated by the females, and remain stuck to the pleopods (swimming legs) until they are ready to hatch.

1. The presence of a greater number of cells than normal, as in the cerebrospinal fluid.
2. Presence of more cells than normal, often denoting leukocytosis and especially lymphocytosis or round cell infiltration; orginally applied to the lymphocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid present in syphilis of the central nervous system.

1. Having more than one spouse at a time; polygamy.
2. The maturation and pollination of different flowers on an individual plant at different times.

Any cell that contains a large, abnormal nucleus, said to be common in cachectic diseases; such as, tuberculosis and cancer.

1. The presence of more than one pair of mammae, or breasts in humans.
2. A condition in which more than two breasts are present; also called hypermastia, polymastia, polymazia, multimammae.

1. A condition of having more than a normal number.
2. Having (as a floral whorl) more than the normal number of parts.