Using quotient graphs to model neutrality in evolutionary search

We introduce quotient graphs for modeling neutrality in evolutionary search. We demonstrate that for a variety of evolutionary computing problems, search can be characterized by grouping genes with similar fitness and search behavior into quotient sets. These sets can potentially reduce the degrees of freedom needed for modeling evolutionary behavior without any loss of accuracy in such models. Quotients sets, which are also shown to be Markov models, aid in understanding the nature of search. We explain how to calculate Fitness Distance Correlation (FDC) through quotient graphs, and why different problems can have the same FDC but have different dynamics. Quotient models also allow visualization of correlated evolutionary drives.

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