Markov Chain Models for GP and Variable-length GAs with Homologous Crossover

In this paper we present a Markov chain model for GP and variable-length GAs with homologous crossover: a set of GP operators where the offspring are created preserving the position of the genetic material taken from the parents. We obtain this result by using the core of Vose’s model for GAs in conjunction with a specialisation of recent GP schema theory for such operators. The model is then specialised for the case of GP operating on 0/1 trees: a tree-like generalisation of the concept of binary string. For these symmetries exist that can be exploited to obtain further simplifications. In the absence of mutation, the theory presented here generalises Vose’s GA model to GP and variable-length GAs.