pleomorphism
/ˌpliːoʊˈmɔːrfɪzəm/
noun
- The occurrence of two or more distinct forms or shapes in the life cycle of an organism, especially in certain plants, fungi, or bacteria.
- Biologists studied the pleomorphism of the slime mold as it changed from a single cell to a multicellular form.
- Pleomorphism in certain fungi allows them to adapt to different environments.
- The pleomorphism of the bacteria made it hard to identify under the microscope.
- In medicine, the variation in size and shape of cells or their nuclei, often seen in cancerous tumors.
- The pathologist noted significant pleomorphism in the tumor cells, indicating a high-grade cancer.
- Pleomorphism is a key feature that helps doctors diagnose certain types of sarcoma.
- The biopsy report mentioned cellular pleomorphism as a sign of aggressive disease.