Foster J A
Initiative for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), Department of Computer Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1010, USA.
Nat Rev Genet. 2001 Jun;2(6):428-36. doi: 10.1038/35076523.
Evolution does not require DNA, or even living organisms. In computer science, the field known as 'evolutionary computation' uses evolution as an algorithmic tool, implementing random variation, reproduction and selection by altering and moving data within a computer. This harnesses the power of evolution as an alternative to the more traditional ways to design software or hardware. Research into evolutionary computation should be of interest to geneticists, as evolved programs often reveal properties - such as robustness and non-expressed DNA - that are analogous to many biological phenomena.
进化并不需要DNA，甚至不需要生物。在计算机科学中，“进化计算”领域将进化用作一种算法工具，通过在计算机内改变和移动数据来实现随机变异、繁殖和选择。这利用了进化的力量，作为设计软件或硬件的更传统方法的替代方案。进化计算研究应该会引起遗传学家的兴趣，因为进化后的程序常常揭示出与许多生物现象类似的特性，如稳健性和未表达的DNA。
