The present invention relates to a computer implemented process for developing a model which predicts the value of a single dependent variable based on the value of at least one independent variable. The process comprises the steps of creating a dataset containing a plurality of observations each containing a value for the dependent variable and values for the at least one independent variable, creating from the dataset a plurality of original chromosomes each comprising a possible predictive model, developing a quantitative fitness measure for each chromosome, and creating a new generation of chromosomes by selecting a number of the original chromosomes based upon the fitness measures, crossing the selected original chromosomes by at least one of a cloning and a pure (standard) crossover technique, and mutating the crossed chromosomes. A system for carrying out the process of the present invention is also described.