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To: PugetSoundSoldier
OK, I’d like to see you explain that one...:) When we use the underlying theory of evolution - genetic mutations and breeding - to solve mathematical problems, it works great. Why doesn’t it work for evolution?

In a genetic algorithm, fitness is computed by some expression involving the characteristics of the system you are trying to optimize. In biology, fitness is computed by examining the relative numbers of offspring. If you tried to write a genetic algorithm with the biological version of fitness, it simply (and obviously) wouldn't work.

117 posted on 05/01/2008 8:03:37 AM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (see FR homepage for Euvolution v0.4.3)
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To: Ethan Clive Osgoode

I’d say that fitness in biology is based upon the relative number of offspring that survive. Species and bloodlines that get too inbred can have lots of offspring, but they do not survive. I contend it is still a matter of fitness of the solution to the problem-set.

Additionally, many approaches with GAs use the approach of the fittest “parents” get extra children, while the worst parents get no children. Weight the reproduction of entities to fitness.

But see, here we’re discussing applications of evolution. NOT intelligent design! For evolution can be tested, modified, checked. ID simply can’t. You can’t even have this discussion about ID because it is fundamentally a supernatural basis. It is because it is.

THAT is what makes ID fundamentally not scientific.


119 posted on 05/01/2008 8:24:18 AM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the sting of truth is the defense of the indefensible)
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