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International Conference on Parallel Problem Solving from Nature

PPSN 1998: Parallel Problem Solving from Nature — PPSN V pp 335–344Cite as

On genetic algorithms and lindenmayer systems

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1498))

Abstract

This paper describes a system for simulating the evolution of artificial 2D plant morphologies. Virtual plant genotypes are inspired by the mathematical formalism known as Lindenmayer systems (L-systems). The phenotypes are the branching structures resulting from the derivation and graphic interpretation of the genotypes. Evolution is simulated using a genetic algorithm with a fitness function inspired by current evolutionary hypotheses concerning the factors that have had the greatest effect on plant evolution. The system also provides interactive selection, allowing the user to direct simulated evolution towards preferred phenotypes. Simulation results demonstrate many interesting structures, suggesting that artificial evolution constitutes a powerful tool for (1) exploring the large, complex space of branching structures found in nature, and (2) generating novel ones. Finally, we emphasize that Lindenmayer systems constitute a highly suitable encoding for artificial evolution studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. COGS - School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences, The University of Sussex, BN1 9QH, Falmer, Brighton, UK

    Gabriela Ochoa

Authors
  1. Gabriela Ochoa
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Editor information

Agoston E. Eiben Thomas Bäck Marc Schoenauer Hans-Paul Schwefel

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Ochoa, G. (1998). On genetic algorithms and lindenmayer systems. In: Eiben, A.E., Bäck, T., Schoenauer, M., Schwefel, HP. (eds) Parallel Problem Solving from Nature — PPSN V. PPSN 1998. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1498. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0056876

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0056876

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65078-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49672-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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