Homology: a comparative or a historical concept?
The meaning of the word 'homology' has changed. From being a comparative concept in pre-Darwinian times, it became a historical concept, strictly signifying a common evolutionary origin for either anatomical structures or genes. This historical understanding of homology is not useful in classification; therefore I propose a return to its pre-Darwinain meaning.
Aboitiz
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Center for the Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000145:classification*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D012660:Semantics