Adaptation of Mutation Rates in a Simple Model of Evolution

		/vol02/mab2nd/	© Copyright 1995
		Volume 02	Received: Accepted:	---- ----

Adaptation of Mutation Rates in a Simple Model of Evolution Mark A. Bedau and Robert Seymour
Abstract
	We have studied the adaptation of mutation rates in a simple model of evolution. The model consists of a two-dimensional world with a periodically replenished resource and a fluctuating population of evolving agents whose survival and reproduction are an implicit function of their success at finding resources and their internal metabolism. Earlier work suggested that mutation rate is a control parameter that governs a transition between two qualitatively different kinds of complex adaptive systems, and that the power of adaptive evolution is maximised when the mutation rate is around this transition. This paper provides evidence that evolving mutation rates adapt to values around this transition. Furthermore, the mutation rates adapt up (or down) as the evolutionary demands for novelty (or memory) increase.

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