“If, instead of using living organisms, one could experiment with entities which, without any doubt could evolve exclusively by ‘mutations’ and selection,” Barricelli argued, “then and only then would a successful evolution experiment give conclusive evidence; the better if the environmental factors also are under control.”15 To attempt this in 5 kilobytes was wildly ambitious, but this was 1953. Jetliners were carrying their first commercial passengers, the space age was beginning, and tail fins were beginning to appear on cars. New elementary particles were being discovered faster than
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