False positives in homology

Question

[Paul Paodumai]

I am wondering in case if there is a false positive in my homologs. How can we overcome the problem of false positives in homology?

[Joe]

This question needs far more detail in order to be answerable.

For starters: how is this list of homologues produced? In what sense are you considering something a false positive?

[i.sudbery]

Homologs are defined as pairs of sequences related to each other by common evolutionary decent from a common ancestor. Because the definition requires knowledge about the deep past that is impossible to ever have, it is philosophically impossible to know whether two sequences are genuinely homologs.