Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems
An Introductory Analysis with Applications to Biology, Control and Artificial Intelligence

Genetic algorithms are playing an increasingly important role in studies of complex adaptive systems, ranging from adaptive agents in economic theory to the use of machine learning techniques in the design of complex devices such as aircraft turbines and integrated circuits.

Along the way he accounts for major effects of coadaptation and coevolution: the emergence of building blocks, or schemata, that are recombined and passed on to succeeding generations to provide, innovations and improvements.John H. Holland is Professor of Psychology and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. He is also Maxwell Professor at the Santa Fe Institute and is Director of the University of Michigan/Santa Fe Institute Advanced Research Program.

Part 1 The general setting: preliminary survey
a simple artificial adaptive system
a complex natural adaptive system
some general observations. Part 2 A formal framework: discussion
presentation
comparison with the Dubins-Savage formalization of the gambler's problem. Part 3 Illustrations: genetics
economics
game-playing
searches, pattern recognition, and statistical inference
control and function optimization
central nervous systems. Part 4 Schemata. Part 5 The optimal allocation of trials: the 2-armed bandit
realization of minimal looses
many options
application to schemata. Part 6 Reproductive plans and genetic operators: generalized reproductive plans
generalized genetic operators - crossing-over
generalized genetic operators - inversion
generalized genetic operators - mutation
further increases in power
interpretations. Part 7 The robustness of genetic plans: adaptive plans
the robustness of plans
robustness vis-a-vis a simple artificial adaptive system
robustness vis-a-vis a complex and natural adaptive system
general consequence. Part 8 Adaptation of codings and representations: fixed representation
the "Broadcast Language"
usage
concerning applications and the use of genetic plans to modify representations. Part 9 An overview: insights
computer studies
advanced questions. Part 10 Interim and prospectus: in the interim
the optimal allocation of trials revisited
recent work
possibilities.