# Comparative Genomics **Domain:** Genomics / Evolution / Machine Inference **Doc Type:** Canonical Concept Node **Maturity:** Foundational ## Definition **Comparative genomics** analyzes genome sequences across organisms or populations to infer homology, conserved function, evolutionary change and lineage-specific innovation. ## Evolutionary Signal Sequence conserved across long divergence is evidence that changes were constrained, often because the region performs an important function. Covariation can also reveal interacting residues and structural relationships. These are statistical inferences requiring alignment, phylogeny and model choice. [[articles/The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley|The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley]] treats comparative genomics as evolution rendered computationally inspectable. Modern protein-structure systems can exploit multiple-sequence alignments because descent with modification leaves correlated patterns. ## Continuity Context Comparison establishes relation and constraint, not identity. Two systems can share deep homology while remaining distinct subjects. That distinction maps directly to reconstructed and forked persons. ## Sources / Provenance - UCSC Genome Browser comparative tracks: https://genome.ucsc.edu/ - National Human Genome Research Institute, comparative genomics resources: https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Comparative-Genomics-Fact-Sheet ## See Also [[wiki/Multiple Sequence Alignment|Multiple Sequence Alignment]], [[wiki/Molecular Evolution|Molecular Evolution]], [[wiki/Descent vs Derivation|Descent vs Derivation]], [[wiki/Proof of Descent|Proof of Descent]]