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EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES. "To put it bluntly, polymorphic computer viruses evolve. Contrary to various Artificial Life scholars, it is the opinion of this document that polymorphics undergo evolutionary processes once released into cyberspace." https://lnkd.in/dGnhiwY View in LinkedIn

ONE IS ENOUGH. "The last time a piece of mutable self-replicating code got out of control – when the selfish gene chain-reaction took off about 3.5 billion years ago – the harvest was very remarkable indeed” (Dawkins, 1992). https://lnkd.in/dGnhiwY View in LinkedIn

ONE LEVEL CROSSOVER. “Learn how a researcher infected himself with a computer virus. Dr. Mark Gasson, senior research fellow at University of Reading, explaining how he inserted a RFID chip under the skin between his thumb and first finger. After the RFID implant was in place, Dr. Gasson was able to infect it with a virus. And more importantly, infect (replicate the virus) other devices." https://lnkd.in/d2b3iQn View in LinkedIn

TWO LEVEL CROSSOVERS. "But there are more immediate possibilities for computer-biology crossovers. Synthetic biology uses computers to store genetic information, and Apvrille and Lovet explained that hackers could infect these devices or the software used for DNA sequencing, thereby modifying whatever biological product is being synthesized." https://lnkd.in/dmzuNWh View in LinkedIn

WHY NOT #2. "As for computer viruses speciating and evolving, Apvrille and Lovet believed that with enough data the code for a single computer virus might form spontaneously. Chances are slimmer, however, that it would include the necessary details to adapt and evolve. So far this scenario has only occurred in viruses in which researchers have encoded genetic algorithms to mimic evolutionary processes." https://lnkd.in/dmzuNWh View in LinkedIn

CLOSED DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM. "The digital organisms are self-replicating computer programs, however, they can not escape because they run exclusively on a virtual computer in its unique machine language. From a single ancestral "creature" there have evolved tens of thousands of self-replicating genotypes of hundreds of genome size classes. Parasites evolved, then creatures that were immune to parasites, and then parasites that could circumvent the immunity." (TS Ray). https://lnkd.in/eYcp73P View in LinkedIn

LARGE VOCABULARY. “Decoding chemical communication in nematodes. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans produces tens, if not hundreds, of different ascarosides as pheromones to communicate with other members of its species.” https://lnkd.in/dXsN6Pj View in LinkedIn

"SYNTHETIC LIFE should self-replicate, and evolve structures or processes that were not designed-in or pre-conceived by the creator. Core Wars programs, computer viruses, and worms are capable of self-replication, but fortunately, not evolution. It is unlikely that such programs will ever become fully living, because they are not likely to be able to evolve." (TS Ray). https://lnkd.in/eYcp73P View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE focuses this second and last weekend on worm talk. This discovery is quite remarkable, even in its early stages. Biologists have made disappointing progress decoding the language of vocal animals such as birds and dolphins. But here we have humble nematodes with what looks like a sophisticated language, with syntax, which was supposed to be uniquely human. One day, we might be able to have a conversation with a worm over a nice cup of tea, and discuss their view of the universe. Such a prospect! View in LinkedIn

THOMAS S RAY featured heavily in the early days of synthetic life by creating Tierra, the pre-eminent synthetic life program. He is an ecological biologist who went into synthetic modeling and came out the other end "using the genome databases to study the origin and evolution of gene families." The following few quotes are from his work. https://lnkd.in/ehJiKXf View in LinkedIn