Introduction to the Special Issue: Advances in Genetic Algorithms Research Trends and Perspectives

More than 20 years ago, John Holland published the bookAdaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems (Holland, 1975) describing a general framework for understanding the mechanisms responsible for adaptive change in a variety of systems over a broad range of timescales. Over the years, as Holland continued to develop his ideas and published other books and papers building on his basic framework, the influence of Holland’s ideas has steadily grown. Today, John Holland is regarded in many circles as a visionary whose insights address critical issues relevant to scientific inquiries in fields as diverse as economics, immunology, cognitive science, and ecology (Booker et al., 1999). His research has also provided much of the intellectual foundation for the new science of complexity (Holland 1995, 1998).