Introduction
Homology is a broad concept that examines the similarities in traits or features across species/taxonomic groups. A common example is the homology in limb bone structures seen across the vertebrate clade. In this case, homology is looking specifically at the differences in the protein sequence for the HGD gene protein product. These analyses can be useful for determining suitable model organisms for study on human proteins, but also can yield information as to how the structure and potentially function of a protein has changed throughout evolutionary time.
Results
FASTA Protein Sequence for the human HGD gene product
Caenorhabditis elegans
C. elegans homolog (97% coverage, 66% identity) |
Discussion
The high level of conservation seen through these homologs is a good indicator that HGD is a very important component of life as we know it. It also signifies that when deciding on a model organism, the level of conservation of the gene in that organism isn't something to worry about.
Image references:
Drosophila: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfeatures/wm/live/1280_720/images/live/p0/2b/2n/p02b2nth.jpg
Zebrafish: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Danio_rerio_lab_left.JPG
Mouse: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EBMSZAyh-c/VgAo8omijfI/AAAAAAAAKbA/eVeJ9m3khcI/s1600/IMG_6121.JPG
C elegans: https://web.science.uu.nl/developmentalbiology/boxem/images/adult_worm.jpg
Arabidopsis: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Arabidopsis_thaliana_inflorescencias.jpg
Rat: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Rattus_norvegicus_-Fairlands_Valley_Park%2C_Stevenage%2C_England-8.jpg
Cow: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Bos_taurus_taurus_sideview.JPG
Horse: https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0113/1736.jpeg
Header: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Gegenbaur_1870_hand_homology.png
Drosophila: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfeatures/wm/live/1280_720/images/live/p0/2b/2n/p02b2nth.jpg
Zebrafish: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Danio_rerio_lab_left.JPG
Mouse: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EBMSZAyh-c/VgAo8omijfI/AAAAAAAAKbA/eVeJ9m3khcI/s1600/IMG_6121.JPG
C elegans: https://web.science.uu.nl/developmentalbiology/boxem/images/adult_worm.jpg
Arabidopsis: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Arabidopsis_thaliana_inflorescencias.jpg
Rat: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Rattus_norvegicus_-Fairlands_Valley_Park%2C_Stevenage%2C_England-8.jpg
Cow: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Bos_taurus_taurus_sideview.JPG
Horse: https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0113/1736.jpeg
Header: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Gegenbaur_1870_hand_homology.png