Polymorphism

Polymorphism is a term used in various disciplines with different meanings. In the context of biology, it refers to the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative phenotypes, in the population of a species. In order to be classified as such, morphs must occupy the same habitat at the same time and belong to a panmictic population (one with random mating).

Biology

In biology, polymorphism is a major aspect of biodiversity. It is defined as the occurrence of two or more different morphs or forms in the population of a species. The concept was first introduced by English biologist John Lubbock in 1889.

Genetic Polymorphism

Genetic polymorphism is a type of polymorphism where the phenotype is influenced by the genotype of an individual. It can be caused by multiple alleles of a gene within a population or by the interactions between two or more genes.

Balanced Polymorphism

Balanced polymorphism is a type of polymorphism where the frequencies of the morphs remain stable over many generations. This is due to the fact that no single morph has an overall advantage or disadvantage over the others in terms of survival and reproduction.

Computer Science

In computer science, polymorphism is a programming language feature that allows values of different data types to be handled using a uniform interface. The concept was introduced by Christopher Strachey in the 1960s.

Ad hoc Polymorphism

Ad hoc polymorphism is a kind of polymorphism in which polymorphic functions can be applied to arguments of different types, but behave differently depending on the type of the argument.

Parametric Polymorphism

Parametric polymorphism is a way to make a language more expressive while still maintaining full static type-safety.

See Also

• Morphology (biology)
• Genetic variation
• Phenotypic trait
• Polymorphism in Lepidoptera