GENETIC ALGORITHMS - PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL-SELECTION APPLIED TO COMPUTATION

A genetic algorithm is a form of evolution that occurs on a computer. Genetic algorithms are a search method that can be used for both solvi ng problems and modeling evolutionary systems. With various mapping te chniques and an appropriate measure of fitness, a genetic algorithm ca n be tailored to evolve a solution for many types of problems, includi ng optimization of a function or determination of the proper order of a sequence. Mathematical analysis has begun to explain how genetic alg orithms work and how best to use them. Recently, genetic algorithms ha ve been used to model several natural evolutionary systems, including immune systems.