Polymorphism

n. state of having many forms, state of existing in several forms

In general, polymorphism describes multiple possible states for a single property (it is said to be polymorphic, or polymorphous). Polymorphism may specifically refer to:Polymorphism (biology), having multiple alleles of a gene within a population, usually expressing different phenotypes;Polymorphism (biophysics) also referred to as Lipid polymorphism, the property of amphiphiles that gives rise to various aggregations of lipids;Type polymorphism, allowing program code to work with various typesPolymorphism in object-oriented programming;Polymorphic code, self-modifying program code designed to defeat anti-virus programs;Polymorphism (materials science), the ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure;Polymorphism (botany), the ability of a plant to produce both quiescent and dormant seeds.In sexology, polymorphous perversity
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Noun
1. (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound
(synonym) pleomorphism
(hypernym) chemical phenomenon
(hyponym) dimorphism
(classification) chemistry, chemical science
2. (biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences)
(hypernym) organic phenomenon
(hyponym) dimorphism
(classification) biology, biological science

(n.)
The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form.
  

(n.)
Same as Pleomorphism.
  

(n.)
Existence in many forms; 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.
  

The existence of two (or more) forms of a gene with each form being too common to be due merely to new mutation. Examples of polymorphic genes include sickle cell, thalassemia and G6PD, all of which are believed to have become common because they offer an advantage against malaria.