Darwin program version 2012. User instructions Darwin's theory of evolution bbuilds opon the idea that mutations are random. Sometimes, a mutation happens that is slightly better fitted with the environment. Such a mutation will have a little higher probability to multiply. So in the long run, its survival probability should be higher, and eventually, the original population should disapperar. The program builds a tiny world, starting with one single individual, that spreads by distributing seeds in the surrounding locations. A seed may mutate, and the result may give rise to several populations sharing the available space. They all compete for the same resources, so eventually, merely the strongest should be able to saurvive, while all the weaker prpolations should be extinguished. To run the program The easiest way is to use the default values and simply click [Create]. A filled circle will appear in the simulation area, and new buttons and fields will appear. The new fields are intended for presentation of results. Click the button [Generations] a number of times. Each click gives one new generation, but by writing a number in the input field (Generations per step) will cause several generations pass, e.g. 100. Mutaions appear at the probability given in the input field (Mutation probability). The figure gives the probability for a seed to be mutated. Mutations may be fitted better or worse to the environment as compared to the parent. Generally, degenerative mutations are more common than beneficial. The button [Change view], controls what to display. Originally, the colors represent the gene strengths, with gene zero represented by intensities of red, and gene one by intensities of green. Next disply mode, commonest, shows the most common species in the current state of the simulation. The third diplay mode, strength shows the strength of the individuals, with dark reed being weakest, and the growing strength through the sequence dark red - bright red - orange - yellow - dark green - light green The button [Catastrophe] will cause most of the population to die. Merely a small part of the simulation area will happen to not be hit by the disaster. Mutaion probability as well as generations per step are allowed to get new values in a running simulation. The system size may only be changed before the button [Create] is clicked. The button [Find 99%] caused the simulation to run until the largest population has reach a fitness of 99 percent or more. This corresponds to the degree of optimization found in many biological systems, e.g, eyes and ears. Allan Emrén