[net.space] self-replicating machine program mut

barnes (10/23/82)

#R:sri-unix:-393000:uiucdcs:12700014:000:561
uiucdcs!barnes    Oct 23 05:13:00 1982

	I always wondered how something like a robot improve its
programming by malfunctioning, but not now after taking CS 265 (a
digital logic lab.)  I would leave a gate here or there unconnected
or with the wire barely touching and the curcuit would work.  Then
I would realize my error and fix the connection, then the damn thing
wouldn't work wired properly.  I am a true believer that a logic
gate with no input 'knows' what state it should be in to give the
correct output (except, of course, when it becomes time to turn
in the project).

				uiucdcs!barnes

mcewan (10/24/82)

#R:sri-unix:-393000:uiucdcs:12700016:000:260
uiucdcs!mcewan    Oct 23 20:50:00 1982

But biological mutation usually creates "junk", too. Its just that every so
often a success appears that is an improvement, while all of the thousands
of failures fade away do to their inferiority. Just because something is
rare doesn't mean it doesn't exist.