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[[Image:Animated glider emblem.gif|thumb|right|Glider pattern]]

[[Image:Animated glider emblem.gif|thumb|right|Glider pattern]]

'''Conway's game of life''' (abbreviated '''CGL''') deals with a cellular automaton game called ''Life'', which was meant to simulate the ecology of one-celled creatures. It was invented by [[John Conway]] in 1970. <ref>[http://www.math.com/students/wonders/life/life.html Wonders of Math]</ref>

'''Conway's Game of Life''' (abbreviated '''CGL''') deals with a cellular automation game called ''Life'', which was meant to simulate the ecology of one-celled creatures. It was invented by [[John Conway]] in 1970. <ref>[http://www.math.com/students/wonders/life/life.html Wonders of Math]</ref>

CGL is a simple game whereby random squares on a grid are filled. These are deemed to be "alive". Under a set rule based on the number of filled adjacent cells a [[Cell (mathematics)|cell]] either continues to live, dies, or is born.

CGL is a simple game whereby random squares on a grid are filled. These are deemed to be "alive". Under a set rule based on the number of filled adjacent cells a [[Cell (mathematics)|cell]] either continues to live, dies, or is born.

Despite being based on simple rules the outcome cannot be estimated in advance, only by running the simulation can you get any results. Despite it being based on a random initial state possessing, patterns form very easily. One common pattern is the glider, a configuration of cells which can move an unlimited distance across the grid without interacting with other groups.

Despite being based on simple rules the outcome cannot be estimated in advance, only by running the simulation can you get any results. Despite it being based on a random initial state possessing, patterns form very easily. One common pattern is the glider, a configuration of cells which can move an unlimited distance across the grid without interacting with other groups.

CGL have become increasingly studied in ecology as it give an interesting perspective on the behaviouer of ecosystems. It is often cited as an example of how [[evolution]] can occur in that with a simple rules and random starting positions complex patterns can form.  Nonetheless, CGL has failed to provide any evidence that the sort of large-scale evolution required for evolutionary theories of the origin of species: while simple patterns like gliders may arise, despite numerous attempts, CGL has failed to produce complex, self-perpetuating behavior on a large scale.

CGL have become increasingly studied in ecology as it gives an interesting perspective on the behavior of ecosystems. It is often cited as an example of how [[evolution]] can occur in that with a simple rules and random starting positions complex patterns can form.  Nonetheless, CGL has failed to provide any evidence of large-scale evolution required for evolutionary theories of the origin of species: while simple patterns like gliders may arise, despite numerous attempts, CGL has failed to produce complex, self-perpetuating behaviors on a large scale.

In mathematics it is cited as an example of [[chaos]].

In mathematics it is cited as an example of [[chaos]].