Difference between revisions of "Can we get bacteria to solve a problem large enough to challenge a person?"
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minimize 2 - a + 2*b*c - b | minimize 2 - a + 2*b*c - b | ||
| − | This is an example from a small max 2-sat problem. What values of ''a, b'' and ''c'' minimize this function? Did you consider this a challenging problem? | + | This is an example from a small max 2-sat problem [[where all the logical constraints have been translated into a fitness function]]. What values of ''a, b'' and ''c'' minimize this function? Did you consider this a challenging problem? |
| − | Is there a way to program e. coli to evolve according to their fitness as measured by this equation? Note that a minimization is easily transposed to a maximization via the negation of the function. | + | Is there a way to program e. coli to evolve according to their fitness as measured by this equation? Note that a minimization is easily transposed to a maximization via the negation of the function, if that helps the biologists. |
Revision as of 16:59, 9 April 2009
If bacteria can be used to optimize, that is minimize or maximize a function, then we are looking at a significant contribution. Even if the bacteria can get reasonably good solutions to a function, i.e. a heuristic approach, that is significant. For example, consider the following very small "fitness" function where the variables a, b and c are either 0 or 1.
minimize 2 - a + 2*b*c - b
This is an example from a small max 2-sat problem where all the logical constraints have been translated into a fitness function. What values of a, b and c minimize this function? Did you consider this a challenging problem?
Is there a way to program e. coli to evolve according to their fitness as measured by this equation? Note that a minimization is easily transposed to a maximization via the negation of the function, if that helps the biologists.
