Such an ability isn’t even that ridiculous with proper grounding. Brain cells seem to use an RNA-like molecule to transfer programming from one neuron to another. Turning that into a way to make genetic changes at the speed of protein brains instead of at the speed of genetic evolution would be a big step, and very unlikely to come about without the assistance of some protein brains guiding the process, but once it was established it would be a large enough advantage that it would likely stick around.
So odds seem high that all the “mutants” are the descendants of some genetic engineering project somewhere.
Such an ability isn’t even that ridiculous with proper grounding. Brain cells seem to use an RNA-like molecule to transfer programming from one neuron to another. Turning that into a way to make genetic changes at the speed of protein brains instead of at the speed of genetic evolution would be a big step, and very unlikely to come about without the assistance of some protein brains guiding the process, but once it was established it would be a large enough advantage that it would likely stick around.
So odds seem high that all the “mutants” are the descendants of some genetic engineering project somewhere.