# Self-Replication, Spontaneous Mutations, and Exponential Genetic Drift in Neural Cellular Automata

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.13043 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.13043/

## Key facts

- Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 4 of its 18 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 22 May 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [HyperNCA: Growing Developmental Networks with Neural Cellular Automata](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.11674/) (2022)
- [Regenerating Soft Robots through Neural Cellular Automata](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.02579/) (2021)
- [Generative Adversarial Neural Cellular Automata](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.04328/) (2021)
- [Formal Definitions of Unbounded Evolution and Innovation Reveal Universal Mechanisms for Open-Ended Evolution in Dynamical Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1607.01750/) (2016)

## Built on by (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [Biomaker CA: a Biome Maker project using Cellular Automata](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.09320/) (2023)
- [Computational Life: How Well-formed, Self-replicating Programs Emerge from Simple Interaction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.19108/) (2024)
- [Flow-Lenia: Emergent evolutionary dynamics in mass conservative continuous cellular automata](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.08569/) (2025)
- [Identity Increases Stability in Neural Cellular Automata](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.06389/) (2025)
- [Learning Developmental Scaffoldings to Guide Self-Organisation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.14998/) (2026)
- [Coralai: Intrinsic Evolution of Embodied Neural Cellular Automata Ecosystems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.09654/) (2024)
- [Self-Replicating Neural Cellular Automata: Quantifying Emergent Phenotypic and Genotypic Diversity in an OpenEnded Substrate](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.19902/) (2026)
- [Where Does Randomness Matter in Neural Cellular Automata?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.36797/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

This paper reports on patterns exhibiting self-replication with spontaneous, inheritable mutations and exponential genetic drift in Neural Cellular Automata. Despite the models not being explicitly trained for mutation or inheritability, the descendant patterns exponentially drift away from ancestral patterns, even when the automaton is deterministic. While this is far from being the first instance of evolutionary dynamics in a cellular automaton, it is the first to do so by exploiting the power and convenience of Neural Cellular Automata, arguably increasing the space of variations and the opportunity for Open Ended Evolution.