Training and Control System for Evolving Solutions to Data-Intensive Problems Using Epigenetic Enabled Individuals

Roughly described, a computer-implemented evolutionary system evolves candidate solutions to provided problems. It includes a memory storing a candidate gene database containing active and epigenetic individuals; a gene pool processor which tests only active individuals on training data and updates their fitness estimates; a competition module which selects active individuals for discarding in dependence upon both their updated fitness estimate and their testing experience level; and a gene harvesting module providing for deployment selected ones of the individuals from the gene pool. The gene database has an experience layered elitist pool, and individuals compete only with other individuals in their same layer. Certain individuals are made epigenetic in the procreation module, after which they are not subjected to testing and competition. Epigenetic individuals are retained in the candidate gene pool regardless of their fitness. An epigenetic individual can become an active individual by random chance in procreation.