polyphéniques

Polyphéniques is a French-language term used in biology to describe phenomena in which a single genotype can give rise to multiple discrete phenotypes depending on environmental, developmental, or physiological conditions. The concept is closely related to polyphenism and is often used to name the presence of multiple morphs within a species.

In evo-devo, ecology, and botany, polyphéniques refers to cases where organisms or their organs switch between well-defined forms rather than showing continuous variation. Triggers can include temperature, nutrition, population density, photoperiod, or hormonal signals. Molecular mechanisms typically involve gene regulatory networks, hormonal pathways, and epigenetic regulation that bias development toward one morph when cues reach a threshold.

Examples commonly cited include insects that produce winged versus wingless morphs, or color morphs, depending on environmental cues; and other organisms where distinct phenotypes arise in response to ecological or developmental signals. The term can also be applied to plant forms that display different morphologies under varying light or nutrient conditions, though such applications may use related terminology in plant science.

Usage and status: The term polyphéniques appears in some French-language scientific literature and is not universally standardized. In many texts, it is presented as synonymous with or as a facet of polyphénisme (polyphenism) or, more broadly, phenotypic plasticity. Field-specific distinctions in how morphs are defined and classified can influence how the term is used.

See also: Polyphenisme; Phenotypic plasticity; Epigenetics; Genotype by environment interaction.