Degeneration of a von Neumann Self-reproducer into a Self-copier within the Avida World

Abstract

The theory of machine self-reproduction formalised by John von Neumann illustrates the real living organisms’ self-reproduction equipped with genotype and phenotype. However, within such a simulated world as Avida, this particular style of self-reproduction has not been previously studied. In an attempt to characterise the von Neumann style self-reproducer in a computational system, we have implemented a novel seed program that self-reproduces using von Neumann’s architecture. We expected that distinctly different evolutionary dynamics of organisms in the system would be observed, specifically including the possibility of mutationally altered genotype-phenotype mapping. However, what we have observed is degenerative displacement by self-copiers, which are conventional self-reproducers in the system. The mutational easiness of this degeneration was not anticipated, although we knew the selective advantage that such self-copiers intrinsically would have in the system.