[woodchuck64]

"Evolution need only take a random walk along a web of neutral (or at least almost neutral) mutations, that, without impairing the fitness of an organism, surrounds it with very different neighbors: innovative solutions to selective pressures that are there for the taking when the circumstances compel it."

Wow, that starts to explain the amazing creativity of rapid evolution (like whale evolution in 10 million years). So how to turn this into software? This seems like it could be a new class of evolutionary algorithm.

[abecedarius]

Gerry Sussman's http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/users/gjs/6.945/readings/rob... has some related ideas.

[socceroos]

What is the difference between evolution and adaptation? It sounds like circumstantial mutation is more in line with adaptation than evolution?