A note on biological closure and openness: A system reliability view

Abstract

Inspired by metabolic closure and its mathematical realization as a fixed point of f(f) = f where f is an operator, operand, and result, we pursue the possibility of reproduction closure of organisms. We seek an information aspect of reproduction closure, expecting an organizing principle of information (entropy) in living organisms. To remain reliable as a system with unreliable components, living organisms use reproduction involving the description (genotype). A reliability view of self-reproduction with a description will be compared to von Neumann's complexity decrease principle in building automata. Asymmetry of complexity decrease would indicate that the self-reproduction in his model is not reversible, hence suggesting entropy generation (negative entropy leak). Although errors in copying description would lead to threats of cancer, allowance of a certain level of error would lead to possible adaptation recognizing the openness of biological systems. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.