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 <title>symmetry and groupoid representations in functional biology</title>
 <name>SymmetryAndGroupoidRepresentationsInFunctionalBiology</name>
 <created>2009-04-05 09:03:50</created>
 <modified>2009-04-05 09:03:50</modified>
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	<concept>groupoid representations</concept>
	<concept>functional biology</concept>
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	<term>symmetry</term>
	<term>groupoid representations</term>
	<term>functional biology</term>
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 <content>\subsection{Categorical dynamics and mathematical representations in functional biology.}
\emph{Functional biology} is mathematically represented through models of integrated biological functions and activities that are expressed in terms of mathematical relations between the metabolic and repair components (Rashevsky, 1962 \cite{NR62}). Such representations of complex biosystems, mappings/functions, as well as their super-complex dynamics are important for understanding physiological dynamics and functional biology in terms of algebraic topology concepts, concrete categories, and/or graphs; thus, they are describing or modeling theost important
inter-relations of biological functions in living organisms. This approach to biodynamics in terms of
category theory representations of biological functions is part of the broader field of \emph{categorical dynamics}.

In order to establish mathematical relations, or laws, in biology one needs to define the key concept of 
\emph{mathematical representations}. A general definition of such representations as utilized by mathematical or theoretical biologists, as well as mathematical physicists, is specified next together with well-established mathematical examples.

\begin{definition}
\emph{Mathematical representations} are defined as \emph{associations $\Re : S^* \to C $
between abstract structures $S^*$ and classes $C$, or sets ($S$) of concrete structures $S_c$}, often satisfying
several additional conditions, or axioms imposed by the mathematical context (or category) to whom 
the abstract structures $S^*$ belong. Thus, in \emph{representation theory} one is concerned with various collections
of quantities which are similar to the abstract structure in regard to one or several mathematical operations.   
\end{definition}

\textbf{Notes.} \emph{Abstract structures} are employed above in the sense defined by Bourbaki (1964) \cite{NB64}.
Unlike \emph{abstract categories} that may have only morphisms (or arrows) and `no objects'
(or vertices), other \emph{abstract structures} are simply defined as `pure' algebraic objects with
no numerical content or direct physical interpretation, whereas the \emph{concrete structures} do have
either a numerical content or a direct physical interpretation.


\textbf{Examples}
\begin{enumerate}

\item  An abstract symmetry group, $G$ with multiplication ``$\cdot$" has mathematical representations by matrices, or numbers, that have the \emph{same multiplication table} as the group (McWeeny, 2002 \cite{RMcW2k2}). In this example, such \emph{similarity in structure} is called a \emph{homomorphism}.  As a specific illustration consider the symmetry group $C_{3v}$ that admits a numerical representation by the sextet of numbers $(1,1,1,-1,-1,-1)$ (or line matrix)
for the group symmetry elements $(E, C_3, \bar{C}_3, \sigma_1, \sigma_2, \sigma_3)$, where the latter
five are rotations (or the \emph{generators} of this symmetry group) and $E$ is the \emph{unit element} of the
group. Note that the symmetry group $C_{3v}$ has the obvious \emph{geometric} interpretation as the 
collection of \emph{symmetry operations} of an equilateral triangle. Such symmetry operations are defined by
the abstract group elements, with the group unit element playing the role of the `identity symmetry operation'
that leaves any physical object (or space on which it acts) unchanged, such as a $360$ degree rotation in three-dimensional (real) space. Note that each such symmetry operation of the symmetry group has an \emph{inverse} which `cancels out' exactly the action of its opposite symmetry operation (e.g., $C_3$ and $\bar{C}_3$),
and of course, multiplication by $E$ leaves all symmetry operations unchanged. (This is also true for \emph{non-Abelian, or noncommutative} groups with $E$ acting either on the \emph{left} or on the \emph{right} of all the other group operations). 

\item The previous example extends to abstract groupoids $\grp$ whose representations are, however, defined as 
\emph{morphisms (or functors)}, to either \emph{families} or \emph{fiber bundles} of spaces- such as Hilbert spaces $\H$. Moreover, one notes that groupoids exhibit both \emph{internal} and \emph{external} symmetries 
(\emph{viz.} Weinstein, 1998). Whereas a group can be considered as a \emph{one object} category with all invertible 
morphisms, a groupoid can be defined as a category with all invertible morphisms but with \emph{many objects} instead of just one. Therefore, the groupoid structure has a substantial advantage over the group structure
as it allows for the simultaneous representation of extended symmetries beyond the simpler symmetries represented by groups. 

\item The favorite family of group representations in the current, Standard Model of Physics (called \emph{SUSY}) is that of the $U(1) \times SU(2) \times SU(3)$ product of symmetry groups; this choice might explain some of the limitations encountered in high energy physics using SUSY and the corresponding physical representations of the symmetry associated with this product of groups, rather than \emph{quantum groupoid}-related symmetries. It is also interesting that \emph{noncommutative geometry} models of quantum gravity seem also to be `consistent with SUSY' (\emph{viz.} A. Connes, 2004). 
 
\item The quantum treatment of gravitational fields leads to extended quantum symmetries 
(called \emph{`supersymmetry'}) that require mathematical representations of superfields in terms of 
\emph{graded `Lie' algebras}, or \emph{Lie superalgebras} (Weinberg, 2004 \cite{SW2k4}).

\item Simplified mathematical models of networks of interacting living cells were recently formulated
in terms of \emph{symmetry groupoid representations}, and several interesting theorems were proven for such 
topological structures (Stewart, 2007) that are relevant to relational and functional biology.  

\end{enumerate}

Several areas of functional biology, such as:  \emph{functional genomics, interactomics,
and computer modeling} of the physiological functions in living organisms, including humans
are now being developed very rapidly because of the huge impact of mathematical representations
and ultra-fast numerical computations in medicine, biotechnology and all life sciences. 
Thus, biomathematical and bioinformatics approaches to functional biology 
utilize a wide range of mathematical concepts, theories and tools, from ODE's to biostatistics, 
probability theory, graph theory, topology, abstract algebra, set theory, algebraic topology, categories, 
many-valued logic algebras, higher dimensional algebra (HDA) and organismic supercategories. 
Without such mathematical approaches and the use of ultra-fast computers, the recent completion of the first 
Human genome projects would not have been possible, because it would have taken much longer and 
would have been far more costly.  


\begin{thebibliography}{9}
\bibitem{RMcW2k2}
R. McWeeney. 2002. \emph{Symmetry : An Introduction to Group Theory and Its Applications.}
Dover Publications Inc.: Mineola, New York, NY.

\bibitem{NR62}
N. Rashevsky.1962. \emph{Mathematical Biology}. Chicago University Press: Chicago. 

\bibitem{SW2k4}
S. Weinberg. 2004. \emph{Quantum Field Theory}, vol.3. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

\bibitem{NB64}
N. Bourbaki. 1964. Alg\`ebre commutative in \'El\'ements de Math\'ematique, Chs. 1-6, Hermann: Paris.


\end{thebibliography}</content>
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