polymorphism
One interface, many forms
Polymorphism is the occurrence of different forms.
In biology, it describes species with multiple distinct forms—different colorations, body types, or life stages within the same population.
In chemistry, it's when a substance crystallizes in more than one structure.
In programming, polymorphism allows code to work with objects of different types through a shared interface: The function uses polymorphism to handle both circles and rectangles.
The core idea across all uses is variation in form while maintaining identity.
Gene variant at one locus
- geneHereditary information unit
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
DNA · locus · variant · chromosome · genetic diversity · codominance · heredity · genomics
Property received from ancestors
- overloadingExceeding safe capacity
- overridingOf chief importance
- object-orientedParadigm using encapsulated entities
- interfacesPoints of interaction between systems
classes · methods · encapsulation · abstraction · compile-time · runtime · generics · templates
Two distinct forms
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- mimicryAdaptive resemblance to another
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- casteInherited social division
life cycle · variation · natural selection · sexual selection · queen · worker · soldier
Word having related meanings
- allophoneNon-distinctive sound variation
- morphemeSmallest meaningful language unit
- alternationSequential interchange of elements
- inflectionWord form alteration
conjugation · declension · stem · affix · phonological · paradigm · grammatical · variation
Ordered atomic arrangement in solids
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- allotropyElement existing in multiple forms
- crystallizationForming ordered solid structure
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
solid state · pharmaceutical · solubility · stability · thermodynamic · kinetic · transformation · habit
allele
Gene variant at one locus
- geneHereditary information unit
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
phenotype · DNA · locus · variant · chromosome · genetic diversity · codominance · heredity · genomics · recessive
inheritance
Property received from ancestors
- overloadingExceeding safe capacity
- overridingOf chief importance
- object-orientedParadigm using encapsulated entities
interfaces · classes · methods · encapsulation · abstraction · compile-time · runtime · generics · templates · dispatch
dimorphism
Two distinct forms
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- mimicryAdaptive resemblance to another
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
caste · life cycle · variation · natural selection · sexual selection · queen · worker · soldier
polysemy
Word having related meanings
- allophoneNon-distinctive sound variation
- morphemeSmallest meaningful language unit
- alternationSequential interchange of elements
inflection · conjugation · declension · stem · affix · phonological · paradigm · grammatical · variation
crystal structure
Ordered atomic arrangement in solids
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- allotropyElement existing in multiple forms
- crystallizationForming ordered solid structure
lattice · solid state · pharmaceutical · solubility · stability · thermodynamic · kinetic · transformation · habit · diffraction
- JavaJDK, JAR, JVM, bytecode, packages
- evolutionevolution, natural selection, mutation, adaptation, speciation
- crystalsquartz, amethyst, diamond, citrine, rose quartz
- magical effectsinvisibility, teleportation, levitation, enchantment, hex
- geneticsDNA, allele, genotype, genes, gene
- DNA AnalysisDNA, DNA profiling, DNA testing, DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting
polymorphismuniformity
State of being identical
monomorphic · invariance · homogeneity · constancy · fixedness