Transitive homology
This page explores the transitive closure of the homologous_to relation. Currently in OBD this is a binary class-level relation that holds between two taxon-specific anatomical entities.
I propose the following expansion to OWL-DL instance-level quantified axioms:
homologous_to(A,B) ==> Class: A SubClassOf: descendedFrom some (hasDescendant some B) Class: B SubClassOf: descendedFrom some (hasDescendant some A)
If we make the simplifying assumption that directlyDescendsFrom is functional then it follows that class-level homology is transitive. What are the consequences of making this strong assumption? We can explore this with existing phenoscape data:
Otophysi intercalarium
this is annotated to be homologous to the neural arch 2 and vertebra 2 in Teleosti. From this, what can be said of the relationship between these two entities?
Otophysi tripus
this is annotated to be homologous to (i) the fusion of parapophysis + rib of v3 and (ii) the fusion of parapophysis + rib of v3 + rib of v4 in Teleosti. What can be said from this of the relation between (i) and (ii)
