Use of a genetic algorithm to evolve the parameters of an iterated function system in order to create adapted phenotypic structures

This work investigates the use of Evolutionary Computation to generate fractal pattern structures representing the phenotype of an organism, using the Barnsley fern as an example. Genetic Algorithm is implemented as the search and optimisation tool to generate the fractal structure of the leaf pattern. The Genetic Algorithm evolves the parameters of the Iterated Function System and selects the resulting fractal structures, representing a generated phenotype, using box-counting dimension as a fitness metric. In this way, realistic self-similar fern structures are evolved over a few tens of generations. The algorithm is further extended to test its potential to generate other natural fractals.