Mating pool

[1][2] The mating pool is formed by candidate solutions that the selection operators deem to have the highest fitness in the current population.

Crossover operators are then applied to the parents, resulting in recombination of genes recognized as superior.

There are multiple criteria that can be employed to determine which individuals make it into the mating pool and which are left behind.

However, the ones with a higher level of fitness are more likely to be picked and therefore have a greater chance of passing on their features to the next generation.

This approach divides a hypothetical circular wheel into different slots, the size of which is equal to the fitness values of each potential candidate.

The greater the fitness value of an individual, the higher the probability of being chosen as a parent by the random spin of the wheel.

However, in this case there is more than one fixed point and as a result all of the mating pool members will be selected simultaneously.

Visual representation of the position of the mating pool during the genetic algorithm process.
Parental selection methods used in the creation of a mating pool.