Genetic Homology

Genetic homology refers to the similarity in DNA sequences between different species or individuals, indicating a common ancestry. When two species have similar genes, it suggests they evolved from a shared ancestor and retained some genetic features over time. Homology can be of two types: orthologous (genes in different species that originated from a common ancestor) and paralogous (genes related within the same species due to duplication). Recognizing genetic homology helps scientists understand evolutionary relationships, track how species have changed, and identify functions of genes by comparing their sequences across different organisms.