Dogs near Chernobyl Nuclear plant show genetic signs of natural selection

Researchers from North Carolina State University identified unique genetic profiles in dogs living near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

The study, published in the journal Genes, compared these dogs to populations in the city of Chernobyl, which sits about 16 kilometers away, and to global dog populations. Megan Dillon and her team found that the dogs at the nuclear site are more genetically similar to dogs on the Galapagos Islands than to the dogs in the nearby city.

The data suggests that these dogs are undergoing natural selection rather than just experiencing random genetic drift. The researchers found that the genomic regions under the highest selective pressure are linked to biological functions like immunity, cell survival, and DNA repair. The study suggests that these genetic variants likely existed in the original population of dogs left behind during the 1986 evacuation.

Instead of new mutations caused by radiation, these traits became more common over the last 40 years as the dogs adapted to harsh conditions. The team noted that while radiation is a possibility, other factors like heavy metals, pesticides, and extreme winters also create selective pressures that are difficult to separate from the effects of the nuclear meltdown. The researchers currently lack longitudinal samples to see exactly how the population changed from 1986 to the present.

They noted that the most critical selection likely occurred in the first few years following the accident. While the results show a clear response to environmental stress, the scientists cannot confirm which specific factor drove the evolution.