How does the environment affect canine DNA? A recent study published in Science Advances sheds light on how the DNA of stray Chernobyl dogs has been altered, possibly as a result of the disaster.
Researchers study DNA of Chernobyl dogs
The Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor in northern Ukraine experienced a catastrophic explosion on April 26, 1986. The blast released considerable radiation into the atmosphere, and the surrounding area was heavily affected. Nearly 40 years later, the Chernobyl Power Plant and its neighboring regions are uninhabited due to radiation contamination. But stray dogs continue to live in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), which is almost as large as Yosemite National Park, according to Popular Mechanics.
This area is populated by families of dogs that are living and breeding near the power plant. According to Science News, “Dogs within the exclusion zone share ancestry with German shepherds and other shepherd breeds, like many other free-breeding dogs from Eastern Europe.”
Researchers took blood samples and examined the DNA of 302 feral dogs from the CEZ and compared it to that of dogs from Chernobyl City, about 10 miles away. The results were surprising: the Chernobyl dogs showed signs of rapid evolution in their DNA. What scientists don’t know is if the changes were due to radiation or inbreeding.
Study asks more questions than it answers
The study raises important questions about the long-term effects of radiation exposure on animals and the potential for rapid evolution in response to environmental pressures. While the effects of radiation exposure on the Chernobyl strays are still poorly understood, this study suggests that rapid evolution may be one way in which animals can cope with such challenges. By continuing to study the genetic changes in the Chernobyl canines, researchers can gain valuable insights into the mechanisms of evolution and the resilience of animals in the face of adversity.
Dogs of Chernobyl remarkable in other ways
This is only one area in which dogs affected by the Chernobyl disaster differ from your typical canine. Another unfortunate result of the disaster is that dogs have become so inbred that most are mixed breeds. Despite this, and public fear over contamination, some Chernobyl puppies were made available for adoption following a period of quarantine.
This article was written in collaboration with ChatGPT.
