Sexyloop: Self-Reproduction, Evolution and Sex in Cellular Automata

Abstract

We created a simple evolutionary system, sexyloop, on a deterministic ten-state five-neighbour cellular automaton (CA) where self-reproducing loops have the capability of sex. With this ability, the loops are capable of transferring genetic material into other loops. This work was based on Sayama’s evoloop which was transformed by adding a new state and new rules. The evoloop model showed an emergent evolutionary process only due to an adaptation of the loops to interaction in the environment; and after a certain time, all the individuals capable of self-reproduction belonged to the smallest species 4 which reproduced the fastest.