Non-associative algebraic structures arising in genetics

Abstract

One of the difficulties encountered by students when they are first introduced to axiomatic algebra is that the axioms, such as commutativity, associativity, and distributivity, seem self-evident in the algebraic situations with which they are familiar. Indeed, the axioms are so useful, of course, because of their wide applicability. However, it can be instructive to study situations in which these axioms break down, particularly if the situations are not too contrived.