Asexual nematodes challenge evolution norms with lower mutation rates
A study compared genetic features of nematodes that reproduce asexually and sexually. They found that asexual nematodes have slightly lower mutation rates and higher genetic diversity. Asexual populations also showed more genetic differences despite having a common ancestor. The triploid asexual nematodes had higher genetic diversity due to having an extra genome copy. This suggests that asexual nematodes may have evolved mechanisms to avoid accumulating harmful mutations.