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mathematics and logics, but also a systematical theory of understanding the
simulation and digital computers (artificial automata). With the development of
large-scale parallel single instruction multiple data (SIMD) computers, it is very
easy to obtain the color image at low price, which benefits the research of
cellular automata. Langton's work, which can not only distinguish the rule set of
cellular automata, but also support self-organization and the bit change in natural
system, takes one step forward in realizing the vision of von Neumann's
computer. In the former Soviet Union, Vladimir kuz'min and his colleagues are
using the cellular automata to simulate life in another direction. Because of the
close relation between cellular automata and computers, there exist bridges
between Turing machine and some chemical system or life cell, which benefit the
studies on their equivalence.
Boerlijst and Hogeweg combine hypercycle and cellular automata methods
together to produce the self-reproducing process, which offers satisfactory
solution for the problems of hypercycle theory, and explains how the natural
system is organized and how it increases the complexity spontaneously.
7. Artificial nucleotides
The artificial life is not confined to the computer, which is very important to be
recognized. A lot of substances, on which enzymes have effects, can support life.
Based on this, various lives generated from chemical systems are being
developed.
In 1960, based on the minimum set of molecules known at that time, Sol
Spiegelhe and his colleagues realize RNA self-replicating in a test
tube—nucleotide forebody, inorganic matter molecule, energy, replicating
enzyme, and RNA embryonic form from the
ŋȲ
bacteriophage. After meeting
these needs, the RNA molecules of bacteriophage no longer needs the infected
bacterium host, and can quickly replicate it in order to keep the suitable
frequency, a series of figures of transferring to RNA molecules increase fast, but
meanwhile RNA molecule diminished instead, until reach minimum
measurement. The molecule colony turns from the massive and infective form
into the small and anti-infective form, possibly because it can come off the
nucleotide of bacterium. It is clear that these replicating and evolving RNA
molecules are similar to the original forms of artificial life.
The new development of biology has become more interesting, which makes
the artificial molecules evolve. Cech and Allman discovered that RNA acts as an
enzyme in some cases and has the replication capability. This discovery is very
