In mathematical genetics, a genetic algebra is a (possibly non-associative) algebra used to model inheritance in genetics. Some variations of these algebras are called train algebras, special train algebras, gametic algebras, Bernstein algebras, copular algebras, zygotic algebras, and baric algebras (also called weighted algebra). The study of these algebras was started by . In applications to genetics, these algebras often have a basis corresponding to the genetically different gametes, and the

structure constant In mathematics, the structure constants or structure coefficients of an algebra over a field are used to explicitly specify the product of two basis vectors in the algebra as a linear combination. Given the structure constants, the resulting pr ...

of the algebra encode the probabilities of producing offspring of various types. The laws of inheritance are then encoded as algebraic properties of the algebra. For surveys of genetic algebras see , and .

Baric algebras

Baric algebras (or weighted algebras) were introduced by . A baric algebra over a field ''K'' is a possibly non-associative algebra over ''K'' together with a homomorphism ''w'', called the weight, from the algebra to ''K''.

Bernstein algebras

A Bernstein algebra, based on the work of on the Hardy–Weinberg law in genetics, is a (possibly non-associative) baric algebra ''B'' over a field ''K'' with a weight homomorphism ''w'' from ''B'' to ''K'' satisfying

(x^2)^2 = w(x)^2 x^2

. Every such algebra has idempotents ''e'' of the form

e = a^2

with

w(a)=1

. The Peirce decomposition of ''B'' corresponding to ''e'' is :

B = Ke \oplus U_e \oplus Z_e

where

U_e = \

and

Z_e = \

. Although these subspaces depend on ''e'', their dimensions are invariant and constitute the ''type'' of ''B''. An ''exceptional'' Bernstein algebra is one with

U_e^2 = 0

Copular algebras

Copular algebras were introduced by

Evolution algebras

An ''evolution algebra'' over a field is an algebra with a basis on which multiplication is defined by the product of distinct basis terms being zero and the square of each basis element being a linear form in basis elements. A ''real'' evolution algebra is one defined over the reals: it is ''non-negative'' if the structure constants in the linear form are all non-negative.Tian (2008) p.18 An evolution algebra is necessarily commutative and flexible but not necessarily associative or power-associative.Tian (2008) p.20

Gametic algebras

A ''gametic algebra'' is a finite-dimensional real algebra for which all structure constants lie between 0 and 1.

Genetic algebras

Genetic algebras were introduced by who showed that special train algebras are genetic algebras and genetic algebras are train algebras.

Special train algebras

Special train algebras were introduced by as special cases of baric algebras. A special train algebra is a baric algebra in which the kernel ''N'' of the weight function is nilpotent and the principal powers of ''N'' are ideals. showed that special train algebras are train algebras.

Train algebras

Train algebras were introduced by as special cases of baric algebras. Let

c_1, \ldots, c_n

be elements of the field ''K'' with

1 + c_1 + \cdots + c_n = 0

. The formal polynomial :

x^n + c_1 w(x)x^ + \cdots + c_n w(x)^n

is a ''train polynomial''. The baric algebra ''B'' with weight ''w'' is a train algebra if :

a^n + c_1 w(a)a^ + \cdots + c_n w(a)^n = 0

for all elements

a \in B

, with

a^k

defined as principal powers,

(a^)a

Zygotic algebras

Zygotic algebras were introduced by

References

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