A while back I recall reading a magazine article (in Wired I believe) about applying Darwinian evolution to programs to create better programs. Essentially multiple mutations of a program would be spawned, and the one that performed the best would be selected for the next round of mutations.
Unforunately I can't make the subject sound nearly as interesting as is sounded in the article, but I can't find the article.
Since this sounds like just the coolest thing ever to me, I was wondering what mutations one could have inside of a program
Yes. It is called Genetic Programming, where a master program that writes programs itself. And the programs it writes can evolve to a certain criterion.
E.g. 8 queen could be solved by GP.