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Chromosome (evolutionary algorithm)
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<p>A chromosome or genotype in <a href="/facts/Evolutionary_algorithm/bo7eHlcA">evolutionary algorithms</a> (EA) is a set of parameters which define a proposed solution of the problem that the evolutionary algorithm is trying to solve. The set of all solutions, also called <i>individuals</i> according to the biological model, is known as the <i><a href="/facts/Population_model_(evolutionary_algorithm)/acUuA1ta">population</a></i>. The genome of an individual consists of one, more rarely of several, chromosomes and corresponds to the <a href="/facts/Genetic_representation/Ph0A2E0R">genetic representation</a> of the task to be solved. A chromosome is composed of a set of genes, where a gene consists of one or more semantically connected <a href="/facts/Parameter/zFvVFMv9">parameters</a>, which are often also called <i>decision variables</i>. They determine one or more <a href="/facts/Phenotype/vxWXKGLj">phenotypic</a> characteristics of the individual or at least have an influence on them. In the basic form of genetic algorithms, the chromosome is represented as a binary <a href="/facts/String_(computer_science)/4ChJu5WS">string</a>, while in later variants and in EAs in general, a wide variety of other <a href="/facts/Data_structure/yNsNvL1I">data structures</a> are used. </p>