2003 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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University of Limerick
Conor Ryan
The Bio-computing and Developmental Systems (BDS) Group at the UL
The Bio-computing and Developmental Systems (BDS) Group at the University of Limerick specializes in Evolutionary Automatic Programming, and is the home of Grammatical Evolution, currently the world's only non-patented automatic programming system.

Grammatical Evolution takes analogies from Darwin and natural biology to simulate artificial programs, or individuals. These individuals represent possible solutions to problems, and, through artificial evolution, evolve until one appears that solves the problem satisfactorily. This is made possible by representing each individual with a type of DNA, which, in a process similar to real life, can be mapped onto a more complex structure or organism. The exact form of the organism depends on the DNA and the manner in which it is mapped.


The similarity between the steps in Grammatical Evolution and Biological development

Typically, Grammatical Evolution manipulates individuals that map on to computer programs. These individuals are maintained as a population. Each individual in the population has a lifetime, during which it is tested for suitability to the problem at hand, and, depending on how 'fit', or well-adapted to the problem it is, attempts to reproduce. Reproduction (or recombination) of computer programs is possible because of their artificial DNA, which ensures that the resulting offspring will also be computer programs.

Some of the offspring will be more fit than existing individuals, and thus replace them in the population in a manner similar to survival of the fittest. In this way, the average fitness of the population improves until a satisfactory individual is solved.

The BDS group has recently obtained funding from Science Foundation Ireland to develop the system further, and to apply it to some very difficult real world problems, including automated mammography analysis, femoral artery graft quality assurance, and a rapid rescheduling system.

Contact: Dr Conor Ryan, Bio-computing and Developmental Systems Group, University of Limerick; E-mail: [email protected] ; Web: http://bds.ul.ie