On the Adaptive Disadvantage of Lamarckianism in Rapidly Changing Environments

Using a simple simulation model of evolution and learning this paper provides some evolutionary arguments on why Lamarckianlike inheritance - direct transfer of lifetime learning results to offsprings does rarely exist in nature. Lamarckian inheritance allows quicker genetic adaptation to new environmental conditions than non-Lamarckian inheritance. While this may be an advantage in the short term, it may be detrimental in the long term, since the population may be less well prepared for future environmental changes than in the absence of Lamarckianism.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: ECAL
• Authors: Ingo Paenke, Bernhard Sendhoff, Jon Rowe, Chrisantha Fernando
• Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, ECAL 2007, Lamarckianlike Inheritance, Quicker Genetic Adaptation, Simple Simulation Model