heteromorphic

views updated Jun 08 2018

heteromorphic Literally, differing in form, and applied to:
a. phases/stages of organisms in which there is alternation of generations, particularly in algae where generations are vegetatively dissimilar; and

b. a chromosome pair that have some homology but that differ in size or shape, e.g. the X and Y sex chromosomes
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heteromorphic

views updated May 09 2018

het·er·o·mor·phic / ˌhetərəˈmôrfik/ • adj. Biol. occurring in two or more different forms, esp. at different stages in the life cycle.DERIVATIVES: het·er·o·morph / ˈhetərəˌmôrf/ n. / ˈhetərəˌmôrfē/ het·er·o·mor·phy n.

heteromorphic

views updated May 11 2018

heteromorphic Literally, differing in form, and applied to: (a) phases/stages of organisms in which there is alternation of generations; and (b) a chromosome pair that have some homology but that differ in size or shape, e.g. the X and Y sex chromosomes.