seniorGenetic Algorithms
What is epistasis in Genetic Algorithms?
Updated May 16, 2026
Short answer
Epistasis refers to interactions between genes where the effect of one gene depends on others.
Deep explanation
In GA, epistasis measures how gene interactions affect fitness. High epistasis means genes are highly interdependent, making optimization harder because changing one gene alters the effect of others unpredictably.
Real-world example
In portfolio optimization, asset performance depends on interactions with other assets.
Common mistakes
- Assuming genes contribute independently to fitness.
Follow-up questions
- Why does high epistasis make GA harder?
- How can epistasis be handled?