Does radiation aid evolution?

11 December 2012

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Question

Radiation is often considered harmful for us on a personal level, but could it be beneficial for human kind because it will speedup genetic mutation and therefore, our development in general?

Answer

Mark D. - An interesting question and a philosophical question. I'm not sure we've been made to evolve that quickly. Radiation plays a very important role in treatment and especially in the treatment of some cancers, but I'm not sure that would be a very effective way for us to try and evolve.

Chris - It's reassuring. I'll avoid Chernobyl in the future then!

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