Life is tough but so are worms — thanks to mom. Duke Today, July 8, 2019. Numerous studies show that the legacy of hardship can be passed from one generation to the next. The good news is that resilience can cross generations too. A worm study found that offspring of mothers who ate fewer calories during pregnancy were better able to bounce back from starvation themselves. A mother worm transmits her coping abilities to the next generation via changes in insulin signaling that are transferred via her eggs to her offspring.