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Homologous for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: hə'mɑləɡəs

What does Homologous really mean?

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Hey there!

So, you want to know what "homologous" means, right? Well, let me explain it to you in the simplest way possible!

Imagine you have a pair of socks. You know how socks come in pairs, right? They are similar to each other, but not exactly the same. One sock is designed for your left foot, and the other sock is designed for your right foot. Even though they look slightly different, they have the same purpose - to keep your feet cozy and warm!

Now, think about animals. They have body parts that might look different from each other, but they serve the same purpose. These similar body parts in different animals are called "homologous".

Let's take an example to make it even clearer. Imagine you compare the front legs of a human, a cat, and a bat. While they may look different on the outside, all three of them have the same basic structure of bones. The human's hand, the cat's paw, and the bat's wing all have a similar arrangement underneath, even though they serve different functions. They all have bones like the humerus, radius, and ulna, just like we do in our arms!

So, when we say something is "homologous", we mean that it has a similar structure or arrangement, even if it looks different or functions differently!

Now, there is another definition of "homologous" that we should talk about. Sometimes, it is used in biology to describe chromosomes. Chromosomes are like instruction manuals that tell our bodies how to grow and develop. In this context, "homologous" refers to a pair of chromosomes that have genes for the same traits, although they might have different versions of those genes. Just like our pair of socks, these chromosomes are similar because they have important genetic information in common.

Isn't it fascinating how this word "homologous" can be used in different ways, but still have a similar meaning? Remember, whether we're talking about body parts or chromosomes, "homologous" means that things may look different, but they share a common structure or purpose. It's like finding different puzzles with similar pieces that fit together!

Did I make it easier for you to understand? Let me know if you have any more questions!

Keep learning and never stop asking questions!


Revised and Fact checked by Mary Johnson on 2023-10-29 09:59:16

Homologous In a sentece

Learn how to use Homologous inside a sentece

  • Our hands and our feet are homologous because they have the same basic structure, with bones connected by joints, even though they have different functions.
  • The wings of a bird and the flippers of a whale are homologous because they both have a similar bone structure, adapted for different purposes of flying and swimming.
  • The forelimbs of a cat, a bat, and a human are homologous because they all have the same arrangement of bones, but each species has modified them for different activities.
  • The petals of a rose and the petals of a daisy are homologous because they both serve the same purpose of attracting pollinators, even though they look different.
  • The flipper of a penguin and the wing of a butterfly are homologous because they have a similar structure designed for different modes of movement.

Homologous Antonyms

Words that have the opposite context of the original word.

Homologous Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.

Homologous Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.