A good question:
It depends on the nature of the application and the upgrade you want. We know from biological evolution that some species are more prone to develop certain types of "upgrades" (new features and behaviors) than others.
But, I don't think our evolutionary computer algorithms are perfected to the point where they even match the "creative" output of biology, yet. So, for most practical purposes, I would be forced to give a rather disappointing "I doubt it", for the time being. But, there is hope for the future...
...Much of these limits has to do with physics. Almost all computer-based genetic algorithms are simplified and do not take all possibilities introduced by physics into consideration. The whole study of epigenetics, in biology, was born out of the recognition that simplified genetic models are not sufficient to explain all inheritance and development factors.
So, if we can simulate the physics of the nucleic acid molecule, and use that as the basis for our evolutionary algorithm, where the process of selection emerges from the physics (Rather than have the selection process be pre-programmed); at that point we can expect "selective pressures" to have the power to introduce some really radical and serious upgrades to the system.
And then it will rule the world!!
