Digital Primordial Soup: How Self-Replication and Problem-Solving Co-Evolve

Co-evolution of self-replication and function in a digital primordial soup

We explored how self-replication and mathematical problem-solving emerge together from random Z80 assembly programs. By linking task success to interaction rates, we found that computational pressure drives the creation of compact, robust reproductive architectures. Our experiments show that environmental demands actively shape the physical structure of digital life, creating a feedback loop where spontaneous replication guides the evolution of complex functional capabilities.

"Environmental task demands actively shape the physical architecture of self-replication, while spontaneous replication alters the evolutionary trajectory of functional problem-solving."