A new method is presented to construct a classifier. This was accomplished by combining a generalized regression neural network (GRNN) and a genetic algorithm (GA). The classifier constructed in this way is referred to as a GA-GRNN. The GA played a role of controlling training factors simultaneously. The GA-GRNN was applied to classify 4 different Promoter sequences. The training and test data were composed of 115 and 58 sequence patterns, respectively. The classifier performance was investigated in terms of the classification sensitivity and prediction accuracy. Compared to conventional GRNN, GA-GRNN significantly improved the total classification sensitivity as well as the total prediction accuracy. As a result, the proposed GA-GRNN demonstrated improved classification sensitivity and prediction accuracy over the convention GRNN.