I recently decided to think of an algorithm based on natural selection of DNA mutations. Being unclear about its speed complexity, I decided to write it up and test it out. The result was counter intuitive.

First, a simpler variant: Imagine the following sorting algorithm, given an array of numbers: Randomly shuffle the numbers until they are sorted.

What is the median amount of times you end up shuffling the array before it is sorted?

The answer is n! where n is length of the array. This is known as Bogosort.

Now, a slightly more advanced version:

Assume you can tell which numbers are already in their correctly sorted position, and which aren’t. Only randomly shuffle the numbers which are not yet sorted. Keep all the others in place.

What is the median amount of times you end up doing this kind of shuffling before the whole array is sorted?

I’ll be revealing the answer tomorrow.

Edit: The answer is that you end up shuffling only n times.

Addressing some concerns: this is not a real sorting algorithm, because it assumes you already know whether some of the records are sorted or not.

It shows me how “random chance” in DNA mutations can actually occur much faster than we expect. When a better gene allows an organism to survive better, it sticks around, while all of the other useless genes randomly shuffle around until they can become more useful too. This way organisms with a long DNA code can still evolve rather quickly even if it’s by random chance.