Infinite combinatorics in mathematical biology

Biosystems. 2021 Jun:204:104392. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104392. Epub 2021 Mar 14.

Abstract

Is it possible to apply infinite combinatorics and (infinite) set theory in theoretical biology? We do not know the answer yet but in this article we try to present some techniques from infinite combinatorics and set theory that have been used over the last decades in order to prove existence results and independence theorems in algebra and that might have the flexibility and generality to be also used in theoretical biology. In particular, we will introduce the theory of forcing and an algebraic construction technique based on trees and forests using infinite binary sequences. We will also present an overview of the theory of circular codes. Such codes had been found in the genetic information and are assumed to play an important role in error detecting and error correcting mechanisms during the process of translation. Finally, examples and constructions of infinite mixed circular codes using binary sequences hopefully show some similarity between these theories - a starting point for future applications.

Keywords: Circular codes; Forcing; Forests; Genetic code; Trees.

MeSH terms

  • Biology*
  • Mathematics*
  • Models, Theoretical