Improving the Search by Encoding Multiple Solutions in a Chromosome

We investigate the possibility of encoding multiple solutions of a problem in a single chromosome. The best solution encoded in an individual will represent (will provide the fitness of) that individual. In order to obtain some benefits the chromosome decoding process must have the same complexity as in the case of a single solution in a chromosome. Three Genetic Programming techniques are analyzed for this purpose: Multi Expression Programming, Linear Genetic Programming, and Infix Form Genetic Programming. Numerical experiments show that encoding multiple solutions in a chromosome greatly improves the search process.