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What is a polymorphism in a gene?

By Daniel Johnston

What is a polymorphism in a gene?

​Polymorphism = Polymorphism involves one of two or more variants of a particular DNA sequence. The most common type of polymorphism involves variation at a single base pair. Polymorphisms can also be much larger in size and involve long stretches of DNA.

What is genetic polymorphism and its types?

polymorphism, in biology, a discontinuous genetic variation resulting in the occurrence of several different forms or types of individuals among the members of a single species. A discontinuous genetic variation divides the individuals of a population into two or more sharply distinct forms.

What is polymorphism in population genetics?

In biology, polymorphism is the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative phenotypes, in the population of a species. Put simply, polymorphism is when there are two or more possibilities of a trait on a gene.

How does a polymorphism potentially occur?

DNA polymorphisms are produced by changes in the nucleotide sequence or length. These result from: (i) Variations in the fragment length pattern produced after digesting DNA with restriction enzymes, (ii) Variations in the size of a DNA fragment after PCR amplification, and (iii) Variations in the DNA sequence itself.

How are polymorphisms created?

polymorphism can be maintained by a balance between variation created by new mutations and natural selection (see mutational load). genetic variation may be caused by frequency-dependent selection. multiple niche polymorphism exists when different genotypes should have different fitnesses in different niches.

How is polymorphic DNA used for identification purposes?

Polymorphism at the DNA level includes a wide range of variations from single base pair change, many base pairs, and repeated sequences. DNA polymorphism serves as a genetic marker for its own location in the chromosome; thus, they are convenient for analysis and are often used as in molecular genetic studies.

Is polymorphism inherited?

Polymorphism is an effect of inheritance. It can only happen in classes that extend one another. It allows you to call methods of a class without knowing the exact type of the class. Also, polymorphism does happen at run time.

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