Formal Definition of Self-reproductive Systems

Formal definition of self-reproduction may have importance the Alife research program, especially for application of its achievements outside the discipline. The paper examines two formal definitions of self-reproduction, suggested by McMullin and Löfgren. It is pointed out that these definitions form two major branches of selfreproduction analysis, described by ancestor-progeny and system-environment relationship. The ancestorprogeny definition allows to distinct between the exact / inexact reproduction. The system-environment definition brings in the original classification also allowing to differentiate between major classes of self-reproducers.