Some algebraic properties of \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems (Q2562137)

A short proof of the existence of projective limits (direct products) in categories of general \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems, \(M_R(\mathcal U)\), is given. The projective limit of a projective system \([M_i^*]_{i\in I}\) of \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems is constructed as a cartesian product of the members of the projective system. The cartesian product may or may not be actually realized in particular biological systems. Therefore, the realization of projective limits of \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems has to be studied by taking into account the realizability of mappings in \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems [\textit{R. Rosen}, Bull. Math. Biophys. 26, 239--246 (1964; Zbl 0216.54903)]. If the solution of this problem turns out to be favourable to the existence of projective limits in any biological organism (or projective system of biological organisms), then this would imply that Rashevsky's principle of biological epimorphism (relational invariance) is naturally built into the category of general \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems, due to the presence of cartesian products. Analogously, one can prove that the subcategory of \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems in the category of automata shares other two properties with the category of automata: any family of \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems in \(M_R(\mathcal U)\) has direct sums, and a cokernel exists in \(M_R(\mathcal U)\). The existence of a cokernel in \(M_R(\mathcal U)\) would imply the existence of a biological system in which some metabolic and genetic components correspond to equivalence classes of metabolic and genetic components of ``larger'' biological systems. The cokernel of \(M_R(\mathcal U)\) is ``universal'' in a specific sense [\textit{R. Rosen}, ibid. 30, 481--492 (1968; Zbl 0193.20902)], and this property might be connected with the existence of adjoint dynamical systems in embryogenesis [the author and \textit{D. Scripcariu}, Bull. Math. Biol. 35, 475--486 (1973; Zbl 0272.92003)]. These results also suggest that certain adjoint functors [the author and \textit{M. Marinescu}, Rev. Roum. Math. Pures Appl. 19, 389--391 (1974; Zbl 0289.92003)] are deeply involved in relations between \((\mathbf M, \mathbf R)\)-systems and in solving problems concerning connectedness [\textit{R. Rosen}, Relational biology and cybernetics, in: Biokybernetik (H. Drischel (ed.) et al.), Leipzig, 49--56 (1968)].