1. A method for selecting features for a final prediction rule, said method comprising: (a) generating a prediction rule based on data for a set of features, wherein initially said set of features includes n features; (b) determining a fitness value for said prediction rule; (c) determining a value of contribution to said prediction rule for each of said features in said set of features; (d) removing a feature from consideration from said set of features based on the values of contribution; (e) iterating (a)-(d) in order to produce n prediction rules and n fitness values; and (f) selecting, based on the fitness values for said n prediction rules, one of said n models as said final prediction rule.