Uses and misuses of definitions of genetic polymorphism: A perspective from population pharmacogenetics

Abstract

Definitions of genetic polymorphism currently employed in the pharmacological literature have been incorrectly used (Kalow, 1984) and uncritically imported from population genetics [e.g., Weinshilboum (1984), Evans (1977)], apparently without regard to the problems their application might present in pharmacogenetics or, more specifically, in pharmacogenetic studies of populations.