Genetic algorithm(GA) is a random search and optimization method based on natural selection and genetic mechanism of the living beings.In recent years

GA is used successfully in solving the complex optimization and the industrial engineering problems.Therefore

the research on GA has attracted a lot of attention.This paper discusses and surveys the status and advances in GA research.The basic algorithms

theory

implementation techniques of GA are outlined first.Then many applications of GA in image processing field are reviewed

such as image segmentation and edge detection

image compression

image restoration

image matching

image enhancement

and image reconstruction.At last

several key problems in this field are discussed as well as their development in the future.