A multinational team of geneticists collected and analyzed DNA samples from more than three hundred wild dogs residing in the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Their work revealed that, in contrast to the genetic patterns observed in other dog populations, these canines possess a distinctive genomic architecture that reflects their long exposure to an environment bathed in elevated radiation levels. The researchers describe this genetic peculiarity as a unique structural organization within the genomes they studied, a finding that challenges conventional assumptions about canine genetics and the influence of harsh ecological conditions on genetic blueprints. The discovery was reported in a study published in Science Advances, highlighting the significance of these dogs as a model for examining how extreme environmental stressors may shape genome structure and function over time.
