Pleomorphism (microbiology)
ABILITY OF SOME BACTERIA TO ALTER THEIR SHAPE OR SIZE IN RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
In microbiology, pleomorphism (from Ancient Greek , pléō, "more", and , morphḗ, form) is the ability of some microorganisms to alter their morphology, biological functions or reproductive modes in response to environmental conditions. Pleomorphism has been observed in some members of the Deinococcaceae family of bacteria.