Propagation of Information in Populations of Self-Replicating Code

Abstract

We observe the propagation of information in a system of self-replicating strings of code (``Artificial Life'') as a function of fitness and mutation rate. Comparison with theoretical predictions based on the reaction-diffusion equation shows that the response of the artificial system to fluctuations (\eg velocity of the information wave as a function of relative fitness) closely follows that of natural systems. We find that the relaxation time of the system depends on the speed of propagation of information and the size of the system. This analysis offers the possibility of determining the minimal system size for observation of non-equilibrium effects at fixed mutation rate.