Phat Phenotypes for Agents in Niche Construction

摘要

The paper deals with the problem of phenotype and its modeling in ALife. In the first, theoretical part we discuss niche construction (an idea fundamental to understanding evolution and organisms) from the point of view of phenotypes. Based on that, we formulate requirements for phenotype models that support niche construction and discuss the problem of phenotypes and organisms in general. In the second, modeling part we present and generalize insights from the FATINT system, a phenotype based interaction driven model. In the concluding part we urge further studies on the nature and representation of phenotypes to establish model credibility and relevance.