Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
orthology
Noun
/ɔːrˈθɒlədʒi/
Definition
The relation between genes or proteins that are derived from a common ancestor and maintain similar functions.
Examples
Researchers found that the orthology between species A and species B helps in understanding evolutionary traits.
In bioinformatics, identifying orthology is crucial for comparative genomic studies.
The orthology relationship can provide insights into gene function across different organisms.
Meaning
Orthology generally refers to genes in different species that evolved from a common ancestral gene through speciation.
Synonyms
- Homology
- Gene conservation
- Evolutionary similarity
