Polymorphism

Polymorphism or dimorphism may refer to:

Biology

Polymorphism (biology), including:
- having multiple phenotypes within a population; the switch that determines which phenotype an individual displays can be genetic or environmental
  - includes Sexual dimorphism, differences in the physiology of a species based only on sex
- having multiple alleles of a gene within a population, usually expressing different phenotypes
Lipid polymorphism, the property of amphiphiles that gives rise to various aggregations of lipids
Nuclear dimorphism, when a cell's nuclear apparatus is composed of two structurally and functionally differentiated types of nuclei
Frond dimorphism, differing forms of fern fronds between the sterile and fertile fronds

Polymorphism (computer science), allowing program code to work with various types
- Polymorphism in object-oriented programming, the ability of an interface to be realized in multiple ways
Dialog polymorphism, changing the form of a computer dialog every time it is presented to a user, in order to prevent habituation
Polymorphic code, self-modifying program code designed to defeat anti-virus programs or to defeat reverse engineers

Polymorphism (materials science), the ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure