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Homology: a comparative or a historical concept?

¹Center for the Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.

Acta Biotheoretica

|January 1, 1988

Summary

The term homology, meaning common evolutionary origin, is not useful for biological classification. The author proposes reverting to its pre-Darwinian comparative definition for better utility.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Taxonomy
Comparative Anatomy

Background:

The definition of homology has evolved significantly over time.
Historically, homology signified shared characteristics between organisms, useful for comparison.
In modern evolutionary biology, homology strictly implies common ancestry for traits or genes.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the semantic shift in the definition of homology.
To critique the utility of the current evolutionary definition of homology in biological classification.
To advocate for a re-adoption of the pre-Darwinian, comparative meaning of homology.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of the term 'homology'.
Historical review of the definition of homology.
Argumentation for a revised definition based on utility in classification.

Main Results:

The current definition of homology, emphasizing evolutionary origin, hinders practical classification.
A return to the pre-Darwinian concept of homology, focusing on comparison of traits, offers greater utility.
The historical definition is less applicable to modern classification needs.

Conclusions:

The historical, evolutionary definition of homology is problematic for biological classification.
Reinstating the pre-Darwinian comparative meaning of homology would enhance its practical application in taxonomy.
A redefinition of homology is proposed to improve its utility in scientific classification.

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