polymorphism

poly·mor·phism

noun \ˌpäl-i-ˈmȯr-ˌfiz-əm\

Definition of POLYMORPHISM

: the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms: as a (1) : existence of a species in several forms independent of the variations of sex (2) : existence of a gene in several allelic forms (3) : existence of a molecule (as an enzyme) in several forms in a single species b : the property of crystallizing in two or more forms with distinct structure