Digenes: genetic algorithms to discover conjectures about directed and undirected graphs

We present Digenes, a new discovery system that aims to help researchers in graph theory. While its main task is to find extremal graphs for a given (function of) invariants, it also provides some basic support in proof conception. This has already been proved to be very useful to find new conjectures since the AutoGraphiX system of Caporossi and Hansen (Discrete Math. 212-2000). However, unlike existing systems, Digenes can be used both with directed or undirected graphs. In this paper, we present the principles and functionality of Digenes, describe the genetic algorithms that have been designed to achieve them, and give some computational results and open questions. This do arise some interesting questions regarding genetic algorithms design particular to this field, such as crossover definition.