Homology and Analogy. A Critical Review of the Meanings and Implications of these Concepts in Biology

The biological concepts of homology and analogy have been discussed in recent years by several authors, among them being De Beer (1928, 1938), Huxley (1928), Wright (1934), Boyden (1935, 1943), Hubbs (1944), Moment (1945), and Haas and Simpson (1946). Morphology's central conception is once more receiving consideration which its importance deserves. The views presented by these authors are, as could be expected, somewhat divergent and attention of biologists has therefore been called to the need for possible appraisal, (Hubbs, 1944). The recent account of Haas and Simpson is most critical and scholarly but it is still possible to present and support another point of view with regard to use of homology which does not place upon that concept exacting specification of proof of common origin. The very nature of data so often makes satisfaction of that prerequisite impossible. The present account is an attempt to sketch minimum considerations preliminary to gaining that best possible appraisal desired by all of us.