Animals that care for young may have more mutations and evolve faster

Beetle experiments have shown that populations accumulate more mutations over time when parents care for their children, which may have benefits.

To Michael Le Paige

Evolutionary experiments with beetles provided the first direct evidence that caring for offspring accumulates more genetic variation within a population.

Some mutations are likely to be detrimental, but they also have a positive side. Because more change may enable a population to adapt and evolve more quickly when conditions change.

Rahia Mashood of the University of Cambridge said, “You carry a lot of harmful things. But you also potentially carry a lot of …