After the terrible Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 28, 1986, many people died and about 350,000 were forced to leave the area. Even though the blast happened many years ago, it is still felt by people who live nearby. It’s interesting that stray dogs that live in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have shown an amazing ability to adapt and do very well in this very dangerous setting.
A recent study took blood samples from 116 stray dogs in the area. The results showed that these dogs have not only changed to survive in their new environment, but they have also grown unique genetic differences. An environmental health scientist at Columbia University named Norman J.
The results, which were published in the journal Canine Medicine and Genetics, show that the stray dogs have changed in ways that help them survive in their new environment. For the most part, the strays are the puppies and kittens that were left behind when the dogs were moved. Scientists found 52 genes that might be linked to being exposed to contaminated environments. Because the dogs were able to do so well in a dangerous environment, more study is being done on the site to see if animals and people can safely return.
Studies from the past have also shown that wolves that live in the zone can handle radiation, which can cause a number of different types of cancer. Nematodes are tiny worms that live in the soil. Scientists have also found that their genomes are not damaged by high amounts of radiation. The study’s lead author, Dr. Sophia Tintor, said, “Chernobyl was an unimaginable tragedy, but we still don’t have a good understanding of how it affected the people who lived there.” The study shows how amazing it is that some species can adapt to and do well in even the harshest conditions.
