(speculation)

Maybe a feature taking advantage of familiar clusters
could induce a more advanced evolution.

For example:

A familial cluster is a set (of predefined size) of
agents within a population.  The members of the family
share a similar, though slightly different, genetic
makeup.  Cross breeding within the familial cluster is
not permitted (the idea being that a family will exists
within a particular local optima, and cross breeding
between familiar units will produce redundant or
unoriginal solutions.)  Thus, cross breeding between
familial clusters will promote diversity, and original
solutions.

Opinions?