View synonyms for homologous

homologous

[ huh-mol-uh-guhs, hoh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

having the same or a similar relation; corresponding, as in relative position or structure.
corresponding in structure and in origin, but not necessarily in function:
The wing of a bird and the foreleg of a horse are homologous.
having the same alleles or genes in the same order of arrangement:
homologous chromosomes.
Chemistry. of the same chemical type, but differing by a fixed increment of an atom or a constant group of atoms:
Methyl and ethyl alcohols are homologous.
Immunology. pertaining to an antigen and its specific antibody.

homologous

/ ˌhɒm-; həʊˈmɒləɡəs; hɒ-; ˌhəʊməˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

adjective

having a related or similar position, structure, etc
chem (of a series of organic compounds) having similar characteristics and structure but differing by a number of CH 2 groups
med
1. (of two or more tissues) identical in structure
2. (of a vaccine) prepared from the infecting microorganism
biology (of organs and parts) having the same evolutionary origin but different functions Compare analogous
the wing of a bat and the paddle of a whale are homologous
maths (of elements) playing a similar role in distinct figures or functions

homologous

/ hə-mŏl′ə-gəs /

Similar in structure and evolutionary origin but having different functions, as a human's arm and a seal's flipper.
Being one of a pair of chromosomes, one from the female parent and one from the male parent, that have genes for the same traits in the same positions. Genes on homologous chromosomes may not have the same form, however. For example, one chromosome in a pair of homologous chromosomes may contain a gene for brown eyes, and the other a gene for blue eyes. Human females have 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes (including the two X chromosomes), while human males have 22 because the Y chromosome is not paired.
Belonging to or being a series of organic compounds, each successive member of which differs from the preceding member by a constant increment, especially by an added CH 2 group. The alkanes (methane, ethane, propane, and others) are a homologous series of compounds.
Involving organisms of the same species, as in grafted body tissues.

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Derived Forms

ˌhomoˈlogically, adverb

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Other Words From

nonho·molo·gous adjective
unho·molo·gous adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of homologous¹

1650–60; < Medieval Latin homologus < Greek homólogos agreeing, equivalent to homo- homo- + -logos proportional, equivalent to log- (stem of lógos proportion; logos ) + -os -ous

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Example Sentences

First, correlation of growth: Homologous organs tend to vary in the same direction, and together.

From Project Gutenberg

Homologous reactions are arbitrarily valued as 100 per cent, and heterologous reactions are expressed accordingly.

From Project Gutenberg

homologize homologous chromosomes

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