Analogous
Analogous
Analogous (pronounced: ə-ˈna-lə-gəs) is a term used in various fields of study including biology, medicine, and psychology. It refers to structures or processes that are similar or comparable in certain respects, often due to convergent evolution, but have different evolutionary origins.
Etymology
The term 'analogous' is derived from the Greek word 'analogos' which means 'proportional'. It was first used in the English language in the 17th century.
In Medicine
In medicine, the term 'analogous' is often used to describe structures or functions that are similar in different organisms due to convergent evolution. For example, the wings of birds and bats are analogous structures. They serve the same function (flight), but have evolved independently in the two groups of animals.
In Biology
In biology, 'analogous' refers to traits or organs that appear similar in two unrelated organisms. This similarity is due to similar environmental pressures leading to similar adaptations, not due to common ancestry. For instance, the fins of fish and flippers of whales are analogous structures.
In Psychology
In psychology, 'analogous' is used to describe situations or mental processes that are similar in some way to each other. For example, analogous thinking involves drawing comparisons between things that are alike in some way, often as a means of understanding complex problems or concepts.
Related Terms
- Homologous: Refers to structures or traits in different species that are similar due to shared ancestry.
- Convergent Evolution: The process by which unrelated or distantly related organisms evolve similar body forms, coloration, organs, or adaptations.
- Divergent Evolution: The accumulation of differences between groups which can lead to the formation of new species.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Analogous
- Wikipedia's article - Analogous
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski