diff --git a/Chromosome.cpp b/Chromosome.cpp
index c6b7761..c7b0e9b 100644
--- a/Chromosome.cpp
+++ b/Chromosome.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ namespace BitEvolver
 	{
 		//
 		this->random = _random;
+		
+		//
+		this->generation_number = 1;
+		
+		//
 		this->SetBitCount(_bits);
 		
 		//
@@ -55,6 +60,27 @@ namespace BitEvolver
 		}
 	}
 	
+	//
+	void Chromosome::SetGenerationNumber(int g)
+	{
+		//
+		this->generation_number = g;
+	}
+	
+	//
+	void Chromosome::IncrementGenerationNumber()
+	{
+		//
+		this->generation_number++;
+	}
+	
+	//
+	int Chromosome::GetGenerationNumber()
+	{
+		//
+		return this->generation_number;
+	}
+	
 	//
 	void Chromosome::SetBitCount(int count)
 	{
@@ -122,6 +148,36 @@ namespace BitEvolver
 		this->bits[index] = b;
 	}
 	
+	//
+	void Chromosome::SetBits(string s)
+	{
+		//
+		std::unique_lock<std::recursive_mutex> lock(this->modification_mutex);
+		size_t i;
+		char c;
+		
+		//
+		this->SetBitCount( (int) s.size() );
+		
+		//
+		for ( i=0; i<s.size(); i++ ) {
+			
+			//
+			c = s[i];
+			if ( c == '1' ) {
+				this->bits[i] = true;
+			}
+			else if ( c == '0' ) {
+				this->bits[i] = false;
+			}
+			else{
+				stringstream ss;
+				ss << "Chromosome::SetBits() - Invalid character '" << c << "' (" << (int)c << ") in bit string input";
+				throw std::runtime_error( ss.str() );
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
 	//
 	void Chromosome::ResetFitness()
 	{
@@ -210,6 +266,7 @@ namespace BitEvolver
 		
 		//
 		this->random = other.random;
+		this->generation_number = other.generation_number;
 		this->bits = other.bits;
 		this->bits_count_desired = other.bits_count_desired;
 		this->fitness = other.fitness;
diff --git a/Chromosome.h b/Chromosome.h
index b07eb37..665328c 100644
--- a/Chromosome.h
+++ b/Chromosome.h
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
 //
 namespace BitEvolver
 {
+	//
+	using std::string;
+	
 	//
 	class Chromosome
 	{
@@ -32,6 +35,11 @@ namespace BitEvolver
 			void Reset();
 			void Randomize();
 			
+			//
+			void SetGenerationNumber(int g);
+			void IncrementGenerationNumber();
+			int GetGenerationNumber();
+			
 			//
 			void SetBitCount(int count);
 			int GetBitCount();
@@ -42,6 +50,7 @@ namespace BitEvolver
 			//
 			bool GetBit(int index);
 			void SetBit(int index, bool b);
+			void SetBits(string s);
 			
 			//
 			void ResetFitness();
@@ -69,6 +78,9 @@ namespace BitEvolver
 			//	Random number generator
 			std::shared_ptr<class Random> random;
 			
+			//
+			int generation_number;
+			
 			//
 			std::vector<bool> bits;
 			int bits_count_desired;