Biology / Unit 8 Bio 1749 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Polymorphism
Captions available
The idea
A polymorphic population displays two or more distinct phenotypic variants of a characteristic among its individuals, reflecting genetic variation at that locus.
In practice
A litter of kittens showing several distinct coat-color patterns illustrates variation at a polymorphic locus within one litter.
Where people slip
A trait is polymorphic only where variation has a genetic basis — diet or environment alone does not make a population polymorphic.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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