New Book and Videotape on Genetic Programming

Tue May 24 14:22:09 EDT 1994

Genetic Programming II and the associated videotape
are now available from the MIT Press.   

GENETIC PROGRAMMING II: 
AUTOMATIC DISCOVERY OF REUSABLE 
SUBPROGRAMS

by John R. Koza
Computer Science Department
Stanford University

It is often argued that the process of solving complex 
problems can be automated by first decomposing the 
problem into subproblems, then solving the presumably 
simpler subproblems, and then assembling the solutions to 
the subproblems into an overall solution to the original 
problem.  The overall effort required to solve a problem can 
potentially be reduced to the extent that the decomposition 
process uncovers subproblems that are diPesproportionately 
easy to solve and to the extent that regularities in the 
problem environment permit multiple use of the solutions 
to the subproblems.  Sadly, conventional techniques of 
machine learning and artificial intelligence provide no 
effective means for automatically executing this alluring 
three-step problem-solving process on a computer.  

GENETIC PROGRAMMING II describes a way to 
automatically implement this three-step problem-solving 
process by means the recently developed technique of 
automatically defined functions in the context of genetic 
programming.   Automatically defined functions enable 
genetic programming to define useful and reusable 
subroutines dynamically during a run.  This new technique 
is illustrated by solving, or approximately solving, example 
problems from the fields of Boolean function learning, 
symbolic regression, control, pattern recognition, robotics, 
classification, and molecular biology.  In each example, the 
problem is automatically decomposed into subproblems; 
the subproblems are automatically solved; and the solutions 
to the subproblems are automatically assembled into a 
solution to the original problem.  Leverage accrues because 
genetic programming with automatically defined functions 
repeatedly uses the solutions to the subproblems in the 
assembly of the solution to the overall problem.  Moreover, 
genetic programming with automatically defined functionsn 
produces solutions that are simpler and smaller than the 
solutions obtained without automatically defined functions.  

CONTENTS...

1.  Introduction
2.  Background on Genetic Algorithms, LISP, and Genetic 
Programming
3.  Hierarchical Problem-Solving
4.  Introduction to Automatically Defined Functions P The 
Two-Boxes Problem
5.  Problems that Straddle the Breakeven Point for 
Computational Effort
6.  Boolean Parity Functions
7.  Determining the Architecture of the Program
8.  The Lawnmower Problem
9.  The Bumblebee Problem
10.  The Increasing Benefits of ADFs as Problems are 
Scaled Up
11.  Finding an Impulse Response Function
12.  Artificial Ant on the San Mateo Trail
13.  Obstacle-Avoiding Robot
14.  The Minesweeper Problem
15.  Automatic Discovery of Detectors for Letter 
Recognition
16.  Flushes and Four-of-a-Kinds in a Pinochle Deck 
17.  Introduction to Molecular Biology
18.  Prediction of Transmembrane Domains in Proteins
19.  Prediction of Omega Loops in Proteins
20.  Lookahead Version of the Transmembrane Problem
21.  Evolution of the Architecture of the Overall Program
22.  Evolution of Primitive Functions
23.  Evolutionary Selection of Terminals
24.  Evolution of Closure
25.  Simultaneous Evolution of Architecture, Primitive 
Functions, Terminals, Sufficiency, and Closure
26.  The Role of Representation and the Lens Effect
27.  Conclusion
Appendix A:  List of Special Symbols
Appendix B:  List of Special Functions
Bibliography
Appendix C:  List of Type Fonts
Appendix D:  Default Parameters for Controlling Runs of 
Genetic Programming
Appendix E:  Computer Implementation of Automatically 
Defined Functions
Appendix F: Annotated Bibliography of Genetic 
Programming
Appendix G: Electronic Newsletter, Public Repository, and 
FTP Site

Hardcover.  746 pages.  ISBN 0-262-11189-6. 

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Genetic Programming II Videotape:
The Next Generation

by John R. Koza

This videotape provides an explanation of automatically 
defined functions, the hierarchical approach to problem 
solving by means of genetic programming with 
automatically defined functions, and  a visualization of 
computer runs for many of the problems discussed in 
Genetic Programming II.  These problems include symbolic 
regression, the parity problem, the lawnmower problem, the 
bumblebee problem, the artificial ant, the impulse response 
problem, the minesweeper problem. the letter recognition 
problem, the transmembrane problem, and the omega loop 
problem.  

VHS videotape.  62-Minutes.  Available in VHS NTSC, 
PAL, and SECAM formats.  
NTSC ISBN 0-262-61099-X.  PAL ISBN 0-262-61100-7. 
SECAM ISBN 0-262-61101-5. 

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The following order form can be used to order copies of 
Genetic Programming I or II, videotapes I or II, and 
Kinnear's recent book.  

Order Form

Send to
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Cambridge, MA 02142 USA

You may order by phone 1-800-356-0343 (toll-free);
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Please send the following:

___copies of book Genetic Programming: On the
Programming of Computers by Means of Natural
Selection by John R. Koza (KOZGII) @$55.00

___copies of book Genetic Programming II: 
Automatic Discovery of Reusable Programs  by
John R. Koza (KOZGH2) @$45.00

___copies of book Advances in Genetic
Programming by K. E. Kinnear (KINDH) @$45.00

___copies of videoGenetic Programming: the Movie 
in VHS NTSC Format (KOZGVV) @$34.95

___copies of videoGenetic Programming:the Movie 
in VHS PAL Format (KOZGPV) @$44.95 each

___copies of videoGenetic Programming:the Movie 
in VHS SECAM Format (KOZGSV) @$44.95

___copies of video Genetic Programming II
Videotape: The Next Generation in VHS NTSC
Format (KOZGV2) @$34.95

___copies of video Genetic Programming II
Videotape: The Next Generation in VHS PAL
Format (KOZGP2) @$44.95

___copies of video Genetic Programming II
Videotape: The Next Generation in VHS SECAM
Format (KOZGS2) @$44.95

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