The cover story of the Feb 2005 issue of Discover Magazine, "Testing
Darwin" (C. Zimmer), explains how the Avida software platform is
helping MSU scientists answer some of evolution's burning questions.
Avida simulates evolution via digital organisms--strings of commands
that mutate much like DNA mutates. Avida is allowing scientists to
test Darwin's theories in ways that were previously unimaginable.
This work is a collaboration between scientists in CSE, Biology, and
Philosophy.

See

http://www.msutoday.msu.edu/research/index.php3?article=14Jan2005-9

and

http://msu.edu/documents/discovermag.pdf