C. P. Weidling writes:

>It seems to me that genetic algorithms are one of those ideas that,
>once the concept of computer programming has been established, and
>once the concept of evolution has been established, comes about pretty
>naturally.  It's not surprising that someone thought of it so early
>after computers were developed.  Though I am a little surprised that
>anyone had enough computing power lying around in 1954 to contemplate
>implementing the idea of genetic algorithms as opposed to merely
>speculating about them.

The speculation actually began before there was any computing power at all.
ENIAC, the first digital computer, was completed in 1948, and EDSAC, the first
modern stored-program computer, was completed in 1952, based on von Neumann's
1945 design of EDVAC, but during the war years and for the five or six years
afterwards, the notion of self-replicating automata was in the air, although
the notes from that period are a sketchy. The principal students were Ulam,
Turing, Wiener, Shannon, and, most especially von Neumann. 

For a very brief history, see:

     http://www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/AI/alife/al-ca.htm
     http://www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/AI/alife/al-vonne.htm

For a slightly more complete history, Stephen Wolfram writes this:

     http://www.wolframscience.com/reference/notes/876b

Wirt Atmar
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info{at}bbsworld.com

---
 * RIMEGate(tm)V10.2áÿ* RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
 * RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 8/3/03 8:55:39 PM