Crossover different length genotypes

Question

E.g. I have two random representatives

1 6 8 9 0 3 4 7 5

and

3 6 5 7 8 5

What are the ways to crossover them?

Add some empty numbers (or operations or sth) on the end of every genotype so they will have the same size?

3 6 5 7 8 5 -1 -1 -1

where -1 means nothing?

Or copy few number from first genotype and some from second?

What is the way you use?

Gregoriagregorian

Difficult to answer because what you need to do is largely problem dependent. You need to figure out what makes the most sense to do for your specific problem. If a specific number in the same position, regardless of the amount of numbers in total, always means / does the exact same thing (but not the same as the same number in a different position), what you suggested would work just fine. If not, you may want to consider doing a more complex cross-over. – Cush

Answer 1

If you already have variable length chromosomes, then it shouldnt matter how you do it, you just need to select a crossover point for each of them, and then crossover as normal.

For example using your chromosomes, I have selected two points (.) at random:

1 6 8 9.0 3 4 7 5
3 6.5 7 8 5

With resulting chromosomes:

1 6 8 9.5 7 8 5
3 6.0 3 4 7 5

Firing