Polar bears show signs of genetic adaptation to warming Arctic, study finds

New research suggests that polar bears are rapidly adapting to climate change by altering their own genetics, a process scientists describe as a "desperate survival mechanism" against melting sea ice.

The study, published in the journal Mobile DNA, is being hailed as the first documented case of rising temperatures driving genetic change in a mammal. Researchers from the University of East Anglia in Britain analysed blood samples from polar bears in northeastern and southeastern Greenland.

“Essentially this means that different groups of bears are having different sections of their DNA changed at different rates, and this activity seems linked to their specific environment and climate," said lead author Alice Godden in a university press release. She explained that these genetic changes affect genes linked to heat stress, aging, and metabolism, showing how the species is responding to warmer conditions.

Godden told NBC News, "Polar bears are still sadly expected to go extinct this century, with two-thirds of the population gone by 2050. I believe our work really does offer a glimmer of hope — a window of opportunity for us to reduce our carbon emissions to slow down the rate of climate change and to give these bears more time to adapt to these stark changes in their habitats."

The research indicates that warming ocean temperatures and the resulting decline in sea ice are forcing polar bears to adapt their digestive systems to diets lower in fat, as prey becomes scarcer. Godden noted, "Food availability is a real problem for these bears — everywhere, but most prominently in the south. This may suggest their body shape and composition is also changing in response to their warmer environments."

Currently, the global polar bear population is estimated at around 26,000, and the species is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Godden cautioned, "The study does not mean that polar bears are at any less risk of extinction,” but it “may provide a genetic blueprint for how polar bears might be able to adapt quickly to climate change."

She added, "We all must do more to mitigate our carbon emissions to help provide and extend this window of opportunity to help save this wonderful vital species."

The findings highlight both the resilience of polar bears and the urgent need for global action on climate change to ensure their survival.

By Vugar Khalilov