Table of Contents

Part 1 The general setting: preliminary survey; a simple artificial adaptive system; a complex natural adaptive system; some general observations. Part 2 A formal framework: discussion; presentation; comparison with the Dubins-Savage formalization of the gambler's problem. Part 3 Illustrations: genetics; economics; game-playing; searches, pattern recognition, and statistical inference; control and function optimization; central nervous systems. Part 4 Schemata. Part 5 The optimal allocation of trials: the 2-armed bandit; realization of minimal looses; many options; application to schemata. Part 6 Reproductive plans and genetic operators: generalized reproductive plans; generalized genetic operators - crossing-over; generalized genetic operators - inversion; generalized genetic operators - mutation; further increases in power; interpretations. Part 7 The robustness of genetic plans: adaptive plans; the robustness of plans; robustness vis-a-vis a simple artificial adaptive system; robustness vis-a-vis a complex and natural adaptive system; general consequence. Part 8 Adaptation of codings and representations: fixed representation; the "Broadcast Language"; usage; concerning applications and the use of genetic plans to modify representations. Part 9 An overview: insights; computer studies; advanced questions. Part 10 Interim and prospectus: in the interim; the optimal allocation of trials revisited; recent work; possibilities.