Genotype Regulation by Self-modifying Instruction-Based Development on Cellular Automata

A novel method for regulation of gene expression for artificial cellular systems is introduced. It is based on an instructon-based representation which allows self-modification of genotype programs, as to be able to control the expression of different genes at different stages of development, e.g., environmental adaptation. Coding and non-coding genome analogies can be drawn in our cellular system, where coding genes are in the form of developmental actions while non-coding genes are represented as modifying instructions that can change other genes. This technique was tested successfully on the morphogenesis of cellular structures from a seed, self-replication of structures, growth and replication combined, as well as reuse of an evolved genotype for development or replication of different structures than initially targeted by evolution.