Population genetics considers evolution as a process in genotype space to which the phenotypes contribute only the parameters for the dynamical systems. The view of population genetics is complemented by an explicit consideration of phenotypes, which are an integral part of a new and comprehensive concept of evolution. In the center of this concept is a mapping from genotype space onto phenotype space, which assigns a phenotype to every genotype. In general, genotype-phenotype mappings are by far too complex to be studied successfully at present. The mapping of RNA sequences into (secondary) structures is the only exception. In this case it is possible to model the generic features of the map by means of an analytical approach, more detailed information is obtained by means of algorithms which compute RNA structures for given sequences and vice versa. The RNA model applies directly to test tube experiments aiming at optimization of predefined properties of RNA molecules. Computer simulation of such optimizations provided molecular insights into the Darwinian mechanism of evolution.

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