Multi-level Selection and Immune Networks: Preliminary Discussion of an Abstract Model

Tom Lenaerts, Anne Defaweux, Piet van Remortel, Joke Reumers and Bernard Manderick
Computational Modeling Lab, Computer Science Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel,Belgium

Abstract:

An important gap in the relation between artificial evolutionary systems and their biological counterpart is the inability of artificial models to construct functional hierarchical  structures in an emergent  way. For composite structures to emerge and prosper in a biological hierarchical system, some form of selection is required at each level . In this paper we examine an abstract model of immune networks in terms of the selection dynamics present at the individual level and at the network level. In this context, a property of the individuals is examined in relation to its impact on the reproductive succes on the individual and network level.



Russell Standish
2002-11-13