GENETIC ALGORITHMS

Genetic Algorithm Origin:

GAs were first introduced by John Holland in 1975 and derived from the Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) work of the 1960s.

Applicability:

GAs are applicable to problems:

Which are too large to be computationally tractable, e.g., traveling salesman problem
For which no a priori algorithmic solution is known

Basic Concept:

GA, EA and related techniques are term "evolutionary" because they derive their end product from a process analogous to Darwin's natural evolution and survival of the fitest.

As shown in the figure below, GAs basically involve operating on a pool of candidate solutions via an iterative process of

'breeding'
'testing of fitness'
selective retention of the fittest candidates.

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