It's true. My education did fail me. I do not recall evolution ever having been discussed in any detail in any of my K-12 classes. I do have distinct memories of a physics teacher mentioning it in passing and saying he didn't believe in it, and of a P.E. teacher (a lousy cretin) who asserted that evolution and the bible could be true if a day to god was much longer than a human day.

I majored in engineering and so did not learn evolution in college either. What I know - or what I think I know - is what I have gleaned from years of independent study, reading, and arguing.

First let me say that I applaud the idea of using genetic algorithms to illustrate evolution. This is something that can make the ideas more real to students.

Second, I think my fellow evolutionists make an egregious mistake by referring to evolution as if it were simple when it isn't. There is a difference between believing evolution and understanding it. While I believe that anyone who actually understands it will necessarily believe it; I do not believe the converse is true. It is possible - and even common - for people to believe it without actually understanding it.
 

Hi, I know this post is old but I want to say something about evolution in computer program.
As it is pointed out by Spector, the evolution program has to be given a specific fitness function in order for the evolution to work.
And this function is designed!!
Spector says that for natural selection, the fitness function is survival and competition: but that is false. In the computer program as well there is survival and competition, both are defined by the fitness function

In fact, evolutionary computer program teach us that evolution as random process is not enough!

Please note:
I am not anything you can put in one sect or belief circle,
be careful, you do not know me and if you have something against my text, please fight with arguments alone.

Thanks

Bye