Variantes

Variantes, or variants, is a term used across disciplines to describe alternative forms that derive from a common source and remain recognizably linked to a shared origin. The concept is used to indicate diversity within a category while preserving a recognizable core.

In biology and genetics, a genetic variant is any difference in a DNA sequence among individuals or populations. Variants include single-nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions, deletions, and larger structural changes. Most variants are neutral, but some influence traits or disease risk. A common distinction is between polymorphisms, variants present at appreciable frequencies, and mutations, which are rarer changes.

In linguistics, language variants refer to alternate forms of words, phrases, or pronunciations that arise from dialect, sociolect, or historical change. Variants can involve pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and usage, and they may shift across regions or social groups over time.

In taxonomy and botany, variety or var. denotes a rank below species that recognizes distinct, heritable traits within a population. In horticulture and agriculture, cultivars are human-created variants selected for specific characteristics and propagated to maintain those traits.

In technology and commerce, variants describe different configurations, editions, or models of a product. Variants may differ in features, hardware components, or software options to target different markets or user needs.

In medicine and epidemiology, viral or pathogen variants are versions of an organism that carry mutations altering properties such as transmissibility, virulence, or immune escape. Surveillance often uses lineage or clade names, while public communication may use descriptive or familiar terms.