<p>A genetic algorithm is an algorithm, based on natural selection (the process that drives biological evolution), for solving both constrained and unconstrained optimization problems.</p>
<p>A memetic algorithm is an extension of the concept of a genetic algorithm that uses a local search technique to reduce the likelihood of premature convergence.</p>
<p>The paper <a href="https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1004/1004.0574.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">A Comparison between Memetic algorithm and Genetic algorithm for the cryptanalysis of Simplified Data Encryption Standard algorithm</a> compares both approaches.</p>
<p>To answer your last question, yes, an individual's lifetime still plays a part in memetic algorithms because the objective here is to avoid premature convergence.</p>

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2018-06-12T09:02:10.813Z
2021-01-16T14:47:36.473Z
2021-01-16T14:47:36.473Z
Simbarashe Timothy Motsi
<p>What is the difference between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memetic_algorithm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">memetic algorithms</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_algorithm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">genetic algorithms</a>? Is an individual's lifetime a learning part of memetic algorithms?</p>

<comparison><terminology><genetic-algorithms><evolutionary-computation>
What is the difference between memetic algorithms and genetic algorithms?
Nasser
# What is the difference between memetic algorithms and genetic algorithms?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-17)

What is the difference between [memetic algorithms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memetic_algorithm) and [genetic algorithms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_algorithm)? Is an individual's lifetime a learning part of memetic algorithms?

**Tags:** comparison, terminology, genetic-algorithms, evolutionary-computation


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-06-12. Score: 6

A genetic algorithm is an algorithm, based on natural selection (the process that drives biological evolution), for solving both constrained and unconstrained optimization problems.

A memetic algorithm is an extension of the concept of a genetic algorithm that uses a local search technique to reduce the likelihood of premature convergence.

The paper [A Comparison between Memetic algorithm and Genetic algorithm for the cryptanalysis of Simplified Data Encryption Standard algorithm](https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1004/1004.0574.pdf) compares both approaches.

To answer your last question, yes, an individual's lifetime still plays a part in memetic algorithms because the objective here is to avoid premature convergence.


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