Since the explosion of the nuclear reactor Tchernobyl In 1986, the exclusion zone around the former Soviet site was transformed into a veritable open-air laboratory. A recent scientific study reveals that wild dogs living in this region exhibit striking genetic differences compared to those living around ten kilometers away. These results raise fundamental questions about the impact of prolonged exposure to radiation on the evolution of species.
Descendants of dogs left behind
During the hasty evacuation after the disaster, many pets, including dogs, were abandoned by their owners. Forty years later, their descendants, now wild, survive in this hostile environment marked by still high levels of radiation. These animals are not only relics of a human drama, but unique study topics for scienceillustrating how a species can adapt, or even evolve, in an extreme environment.
Scientists from the University of South Carolina and the National Human Genome Research Institute recently analyzed the DNA of 302 wild dogs living in the exclusion zone. Comparing this data to dogs living in nearby non-irradiated areas, they found marked genetic variationssuggesting a possible influence of prolonged exposure to radiation.
Radiation or inbreeding: a complex analysis
If these intriguing results suggest that radiation may have influenced the evolution of these dogs, the researchers call for caution. There inbreedingcaused by the isolation of certain canine populations, could also explain these mutations. For the moment, there is no definitive evidence to conclude that radiation is the direct cause of these genetic differences.
The study nevertheless opens the way to more in-depth research. By broadening the comparison with canine populations living in environments completely devoid of radiation, scientists hope to better understand the influence of radiation on species genomes and their capacity to adapt.
A hostile region that has become a sanctuary for biodiversity
The Chernobyl exclusion zone is far from being a barren desert. Deprived of human presence for almost four decades, it is home to a diverse fauna, ranging from wolves to birds and frogs. In 2016, a study had already demonstrated that tree frogs (Hyla orientalis), usually green, had become predominantly black in this region. The researchers attributed this mutation to an increase in melanina pigment capable of protecting organisms against radiation.
In this context, the wild dogs of Chernobyl offer a unique opportunity to study the evolution of large mammals in a contaminated environment. Their resilience and adaptive capacity could not only enrich our understanding of genetic mutations, but also inspire research into species survival in the face of environmental disasters.
A fascinating story between science and resilience
As the 40th anniversary of the disaster approaches, the dogs of Chernobyl continue to captivate researchers and the general public. They embody the complexity of the interaction between man, nature and technological disasters. As studies continue, these animals may well reveal valuable scientific secrets about adaptation, evolution and survival in a world where the unexpected remains a constant.
