On combinatorial optimization motivated by biology (Q2369066)

This article presents an overview of multiobjective combinatorial problems and the similarities some of their solution methods have with biological processes. After a short introduction on multiobjective problems and Pareto optimality, the authors proceed to describe two solution techniques: the extremal optimization metaheuristic and the backward-forward greedy method. These methods are similar to processes in the immune system and ant foraging, respectively. The article concludes with an example derived from the traveling salesman problem.