A cellular automaton model for the study of DNA sequence evolution.

Cellular automata are introduced as a model for DNA structure, function and evolution. DNA is modeled as a one-dimensional cellular automaton with four states per cell. These states are the four DNA bases A, C, T and G. The four states are represented by numbers of the quaternary number system. Linear evolution rules, represented by square matrices, are considered. Based on this model a simulator of DNA evolution is developed and simulation results are presented. This simulator has a user-friendly input interface and can be used for the study of DNA evolution.