dna.js

// Daniel Shiffman
// https://www.kadenze.com/courses/the-nature-of-code
// http://natureofcode.com/
// Session 5: Evolutionary Computing

// Class to describe DNA
// Has more features for two parent mating (not used in this example)


// Constructor (makes a random DNA)
function DNA(newgenes) {
  if (newgenes) {
    this.genes = newgenes;
  } else {
    // The genetic sequence
    // DNA is random floating point values between 0 and 1 (!!)
    this.genes = new Array(1);
    for (var i = 0; i < this.genes.length; i++) {
      this.genes[i] = random(0,1);
    }
  }

  this.copy = function() {
    // should switch to fancy JS array copy
    var newgenes = [];
    for (var i = 0; i < this.genes.length; i++) {
      newgenes[i] = this.genes[i];
    }

    return new DNA(newgenes);
  }

  // Based on a mutation probability, picks a new random character in array spots
  this.mutate = function(m) {
    for (var i = 0; i < this.genes.length; i++) {
      if (random(1) < m) {
         this.genes[i] = random(0,1);
      }
    }
  }
}