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Genetic Algorithms

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

  • 226 Accesses

Synonyms

Darwinian approaches; Evolutionary algorithms

Definition

A genetic algorithm (GA) is a stochastic, parallel, heuristic search algorithm inspired by the biological model of evolution. It is used in computing to find exact or approximate solutions to hard optimization and search problems.

History

In his book on the origin of species, Charles Darwin brings forward variety, inheritance, and selection as important factors to explain the ability of evolution to create the biological diversity found in nature. This model was the source of inspiration for genetic algorithms which embody a simpler version of the three previously mentioned principles. John Holland is generally accepted as the father of Genetic Algorithms. Some other important contributors to the field in the early years (1960s and 1970s) are I. Rechenberg, H.P. Schwefel, G. Box, and L.J. Fogel.

Overview

Genetic algorithms belong to the family of Evolutionary Algorithms (EA), which refers to a class of stochastic,...

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References and Further Reading

  • Back T, Fogel DB, Michalewicz Z (eds) (1997) Handbook of evolutionary computation, vol 1. IOP Publishing, Bristol. ISBN 0-750-30392-1

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  • Gen M, Cheng R (1996) Genetic algorithms and engineering design. Wiley, New York

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  • Goldberg DE (1989) Genetic algorithms in search, optimization and machine learning. Addison-Wesley, Boston

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  • Haupt RL, Haupt SE (1998) Practical genetic algorithms. Wiley, New York

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  • Holland JH (1987) Genetic algorithms and classifier systems: foundations and future directions. In: Grefenstette JJ (ed) Proceedings of the second international conference on genetic algorithms. Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale

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  • Koza JR (1992) Genetic programming: on the programming of computers by means of natural selection. MIT Press, Cambridge (here the individuals are programs or expressions). ISBN 0-262-11170-5

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  • Mitchell TM (1997) Machine learining. McGraw-Hill, New York

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, 1050, Belgium

    Ann Nowé

Authors
  1. Ann Nowé
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ann Nowé .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Nowé, A. (2014). Genetic Algorithms. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_629-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_629-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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