3.5.3. Reproduction

In this step, the bacteria with a lower fitness value or the non-healthy bacteria are eliminated, which covers half of the bacteria population. Then, the healthier bacteria, i.e., the bacteria with higher fitness value, will asexually split into two bacteria. In this process, reproduction occurs and the population of the search space remains constant.

$$\mathbf{J}\_{\text{heat}\dagger}^{\text{i}} = \sum\_{\mathbf{j}=1}^{\text{N}\_{\text{C}}+1} \mathbf{J}^{\text{i}}(\mathbf{j}, \mathbf{k}, \mathbf{l}) \tag{20}$$

where Nc is the number of chemotactic steps; Jihealthis the health of the ith bacterium.
