Surviving Chernobyl: How stray dogs rewriting evolution

In the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where radioactive contamination lingers decades later, researchers are uncovering astonishing insights into how wildlife, particularly stray dogs, are evolving. 

When people hear the name "Chernobyl," their minds often jump to the catastrophic nuclear disaster of 1986 that forced widespread evacuations. However, the area still hosts a surprising array of wildlife, including dogs that have become the subject of genetic studies, a research team has released an article via Earth.com.

In 2018, researchers gathered blood samples from eight dogs in Ukraine's Chernobyl Exclusion Zone—four from near the power plant and four from the nearby city of Chornobyl, about 10 miles away. Initial results raised intriguing questions about the long-term impact of environmental toxins on these animals.

Dr. Matthew Breen, a professor at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, played a key role in analyzing the dogs' genetic material.

The research uncovered a significant genetic divide between the two groups of dogs, despite their close proximity to one another.

A research team from North Carolina State University and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that the dogs living near the Chernobyl power plant had a genetic makeup that was different from those in the nearby city.

These findings challenge the expectation that animals living so close to each other would have similar genetic traits.

Dr. Matthew Breen explained, "We’ve been studying two dog populations that, despite being just 16 kilometers—or about 10 miles—apart, are genetically distinct."

The genetic variation raises intriguing questions about how prolonged exposure to specific environmental toxins might influence survival strategies over time.

The meltdown at the plant is regarded as one of the most catastrophic nuclear accidents in history. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that large amounts of radioactive material from the damaged reactor spread throughout much of Eastern Europe.

Residents were relocated, and numerous areas remain restricted due to ongoing contamination. Nevertheless, animals persisted in the region, creating populations that now offer valuable insights into the long-term genetic effects of such an environment.

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is a region where persistent radioactive pollutants and heavy metals could present long-term risks for local wildlife.

Scientists believe that continued exposure to these hazards could leave lasting traces in a population’s genome, the full set of genetic instructions within each cell.

Norman Kleiman, co-senior author of the study and professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia Mailman, stated, “Most people think of the Chernobyl nuclear accident as a radiological disaster in a remote part of Ukraine, but the potential health impacts extend far beyond that.”

It’s also probable that other pollutants, such as lead and pesticides, play a role in shaping the dogs’ genetic makeup.

By Naila Huseynova