  We represent a process of learning by using bit strings, where 1-bits
represent the knowledge acquired by individuals. Two ways of learning are
considered: individual learning by trial-and-error; and social learning by
copying knowledge from other individuals, or from parents in the case of
species with parental care. The age-structured bit string allows us to study
how knowledge is accumulated during life and its influence over the genetic
pool of a population after many generations. We use the Penna model to
represent the genetic inheritance of each individual. In order to study how the
accumulated knowledge influences the survival process, we include it to help
individuals to avoid the various death situations. Modifications in the
Verhulst factor do not show any special feature due to its random nature.
However, by adding years to life as a function of the accumulated knowledge, we
observe an improvement of the survival rates while the genetic fitness of the
population becomes worse. In this latter case, knowledge becomes more important
in the last years of life where individuals are threatened by diseases. Effects
of offspring overprotection and differences between individual and social
learning can also be observed. Sexual selection as a function of knowledge
shows some effects when fidelity is imposed.
