Genetic adaptation of Chornobyl dogs

Research published in the journal Genes indicates that dogs living near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant are undergoing natural selection due to their environment. A study led by North Carolina State University analyzed the genomes of 106 free-breeding dogs to determine if population differences were caused by genetic drift or directional selection.

By comparing these dogs to populations in Eastern Europe and the Galápagos Islands, scientists identified signs of selection at more than 100 genomic locations. These regions are associated with vital biological processes, such as DNA repair, immune system activity, cell cycle regulation, and cancer-related pathways.

The findings suggest that rather than the environment creating new mutations, individuals with pre-existing genetic variants that aided survival in a contaminated area likely became more common over generations. While genetic drift may have played a role following the 1986 disaster, the data points toward adaptive selection favoring traits that help the dogs cope with unique environmental stressors.

Further analysis confirms that the DNA of these dogs differs significantly from canine populations in nearby towns, such as Chornobyl city, located approximately 16 kilometers away. Researchers maintain that the observed variations are driven by natural selection rather than direct mutations caused by radiation.