Richard Dawkins’ Biomorphs Implemented in JavaScript
An interactive simulation of Richard Dawkins' biomorphs, virtual creatures that evolve through artificial selection.
Richard Dawkins’ Biomorphs Implemented in JavaScript launched on May 30, 2014 with 117 votes, #91 of 1,247 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 12 years on.
In plain words
This JavaScript simulation recreates Richard Dawkins' biomorphs from his 1986 book The Blind Watchmaker. Users guide the evolution of virtual creatures by selecting which offspring become parents in successive generations, each with random mutations that alter appearance. The tool demonstrates how complex forms emerge from simple rules and cumulative selection, making evolutionary principles visible and interactive through generational changes.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Biomorphs are virtual creatures devised by Richard Dawkins in his 1986 book The Blind Watchmaker as a way to visualize the power of evolution. By making tiny changes visible across generations, they demonstrate how complex forms can emerge from simple rules and cumulative selection. In this simulation there are 9 biomorphs: 1 parent in the center and its 8 children surrounding it. Each child's genes are identical to the parent's except for a single random mutation that slightly changes its appearance. Click any child to make it the parent of the next generation, and repeat the process to watch the biomorphs evolve over time. If you want to guide your biomorphs toward a goal, pick a simple…from emergentmind.com
Does a similar job
all alternatives →- GBGenetic Boids Web Simulation2025 · attentionmech.github.io · ▲158
Evolving Corals with Neuroevolution and Novelty Search2018 · joelsimon.net · ▲64A research project simulating the evolution of virtual corals - 2018.
- AGA genetic simulator for artificial life2016 · leverlabs.io · ▲36
Richard Dawkins’ Mount Improbable2016 · penguin.co.uk · ▲11Play with evolution on Dawkins’ revived 80s computer program
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