What is Genetic algorithm?
[[File:St 5-xband-antenna.jpg|thumb|The unusual form of this [[antenna]], developed by [[NASA]], was found using a genetic algorithm.]]A '''genetic algorithm''' is an [[algorithm]] that [[wikt:imitation|imitates]] the process of [[natural selection]]. They help solve [[Optimization (computer science)|optimization]] and search problems. Genetic algorithms are part of the bigger class of [[evolutionary algorithm]]s. Genetic algorithms imitate natural [[Biological process|biological processes]], such as [[Heredity|inheritance]], [[mutation]], [[Natural selection|selection]] and [[Crossing over|crossover]]. Genetic algorithms is a [[search technique]] often used in [[computer science]] to find complex, non-obvious solutions to algorithmic optimisation and search problems. Genetic algorithms are global search [[Heuristic|heuristics]].{{ref|cga}} == What is it == Natural [[evolution]] can be modeled as a [[Game theory|game]], in which the rewards for an [[organism]] that plays a good game of life are the passing on of its [[DNA|genetic material]] to its [[successors]] and its continued [[Survival of the fittest|survival]].{{ref|kendell}} In natural evolution, how well an individual performs depends on who it works with and who it competes with, as well as the environment. Genetic algorithms are a [[simulation]] of natural selection on a population of candidate solutions to an [[Optimization (computer science)|optimization]] problem ([[chromosome]]s, individuals, [[Creature|creatures]], or [[Phenotype|phenotypes]]). Candidates are [[Evaluation|evaluated]] and [[Crossbreed|crossbred]] in an attempt to make good solutions. Such solutions may take a lot of time and are not obvious to a human. An evolutionary phase is started with a [[population]] of [[Random generation|randomly generated]] beings. In each generation, the fitness of every individual in the population is evaluated. Some are [[Stochastic process|randomly]] selected from the current population (based on their fitness) and modified (recombined and possibly r