homologous

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /həˈmɒləɡəs/

• Audio (US)

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Etymology

From 1655, in the mathematical sense. See also homolog, homologue. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adjective

homologous (comparative more homologous, superlative most homologous)

1. Showing a degree of correspondence or similarity.
   1. (mathematics) In corresponding proportion.
      • 1655, Thomas Stanley, The History of Philosophy, Volume 1, page 18,

        Of equiangle triangles, the sides that are about equall angles are proportionall, and the ſides that ſubtend the equall angles are homologous.

   2. (biology) Corresponding to a similar structure in another life form with a common evolutionary origin.
      • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 4:

        Lobules, homologous in structure, recur again only in the Gondwanalandic families Lepidolaenaceae and Jubulopsidaceae thus in the Lepidolaenineae.

      Flippers and hands are homologous structures.

   3. (chemistry) Belonging to a series of aliphatic organic compounds that differ only by the addition of a CH₂ group.
   4. (genetics) Having the same morphology as another chromosome; relating to a homologue.

Usage notes

• (biology) For a discussion of the use of the term "homology" (and by association "homologous") in biology, see: Patterson, Colin. "Homology in Classical and Molecular Biology." Molecular Biology and Evolution 5, no. 6 (November 1988): 603–625. http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/5/6/603.pdf (accessed 18 December 2009; archived 18 December 2009, http://www.webcitation.org/5m7rn4rCe )

Antonyms

• heterologous

Derived terms

• cohomologous
• homologisation
• homologous blood donation
• homologously
• homologous pair
• homologous recombination
• homologous series
• microhomologous
• nonhomologous

 

Related terms

• homolog/homologue
• homologize
• homology
• autologous

Translations

showing a degree of correspondence

• Bulgarian: съответен (bg) (sǎotveten)
• Finnish: samankaltainen (fi)
• French: homologue (fr) m or f
• German: homolog (de)
• Greek: ομόλογος (el) m (omólogos)

• Irish: ^{(please verify)} homalógach
• Portuguese: homólogo (pt)
• Romanian: omolog (ro) m
• Spanish: homólogo (es)

(biology) corresponding to a similar structure in another life form

• Bulgarian: хомоложен (homoložen)
• Finnish: homologinen
• French: homologue (fr) m or f
• German: homolog (de)

• Greek: ομόλογος (el) m (omólogos)
• Portuguese: homólogo (pt)
• Spanish: homólogo (es)

(chemistry) belonging to a series of aliphatic organic compounds

• Bulgarian: хомоложен (homoložen)
• Finnish: homologinen
• French: homologue (fr) m or f

• German: homolog (de)
• Portuguese: homólogo (pt) m
• Spanish: homólogo (es)

(genetics) having the same morphology as another chromosome

• Czech: homologní
• Finnish: homologinen
• French: homologue (fr) m or f
• German: homolog (de)

• Greek: ομόλογος (el) m (omólogos)
• Portuguese: homólogo (pt) m
• Spanish: homólogo (es)