On the relationship between cellular automata and L-systems: the self-replication case

Abstract Cellular automata (CAs) have been ubiquitously used over the years to study the issue of self-replication. The L-systems model, on the other hand, is naturally suited for modeling growth processes, of which replication is a special case. The goals of this paper are: (1) to show how L-systems can be used to specify self-replicating structures, and (2) to explore the relationship between L-systems and CAs. We conclude that the bridge between CAs and L-systems seems to offer a promising approach in the study of self-replication, and, more generally, of growth processes in CAs.

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