[Gk. klinein, to lean] Variation in features of individuals in a population that parallels a gradient in the environment.

1938, in biological use, back-formation from incline or from Greek klinein "to slope, to lean" (see lean (v.)). Middle English had clinen (v.) "to bend, bow," from Old French cline [..]

A gradual morphological or physiological change in a group of related organisms across their range, usually associated with environmental or geographic transition.

a gradient of variations in a species that stretches across a geographical location. Example: different types of eucalyptus trees running across a series of slopes.

A gradual change in an allele frequency or in the mean of a character over a geographic transect. © 2005 by Sinauer Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Futuyma, D. Evolution.

A pattern of directional, often gradual, change in phenotype or genotype of populations across a geographic transect. clitellum

Continuous gradation of variation shown by the members of a species from one end of their geographical range to another.

A smooth change from place to place across a spatially continuous habitat. The term refers to a spatial gradient in any measurable characteristic—for example, allele frequency

a gradual, continuous change in a particular trait or trait frequency over space.

(n) American geneticist who succeeded in transferring a functioning gene from one mouse to another (born in 1934)

A cline is a geographic gradient in the frequency of a gene, or in the average value of a character. Clines can arise for different reasons: • Natural selection favors a slightly different form along [..]

A progressive, usually continuous change in one or more characters of a species over a geographic or altitudinal range. Club.

A progressive change in visible characteristics apparent over the range of a species. The 2 extremes of appearance are linked by a series of intermediates.

An environmental gradient (temperature, rainfall, soil ph . . .) and a corresponding phenotypic gradient in a population of plants or animals. Where these have been evaluated by provenance tests, clines are often found to have a genetic basis.

Quantitative gradation in characteristics of species across its range.

A gradual change in an allele frequency or in the mean of a character over a geographic transect.

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