How Dogs Survived Radiation

This was an interesting article I found, and something to think about in a speculative biology project. How dogs survived so long and reproduced in an infected area, like Chernobyl. The dogs did not die of the radiation. In fact, it's quite the opposite. They have survived and thrived, and still do today. Although you won't want one of these dogs in your home, unless you have a death wish. But they offer some great examples of how animals can live in an area infected with radiation. It could even give some insight to how animals can survive cataclysms that might end humanity. So I thought this was a good subject to post here.

To view the article, you can go here https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/pets/chernobyl-s-feral-dogs-offer-clues-to-radiation-s-role-in-evolution/ar-AA1v0yOb?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ACTS&cvid=4d41b9f4b3fd4e1d98192c329b8cac1f&ei=17

Chernobyl's Feral Dogs Offer Clues to Radiation's Role in Evolution

Story by Angela Park

Have you ever thought of how dogs in Chernobyl-infested areas live? Scientists have been studying them for quite some time now, causing new findings and remarkable indifferences compared with other dogs across the radius. Yup, amazing as it sounds, these dogs are a special kind, and it's an opportunity for scientists to discover wildlife's reaction to radiation. If you're up for such, then read along.

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor, located in Northern Ukraine and parts of the Soviet Union, exploded. It sent a massive plum of radiation into the sky. With that, every human evacuated the area, which is still a case nearly four decades after it happened.

Believe it or not, animals thrive in the absence of humans, which was proven by thousands of feral dogs that roam around the area. They were the descendants of the pets left behind when humans did a speedy evacuation.

Now, as the explosion reaches its 40th anniversary, biologists decided to take a closer look at the animals located inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), whose size can be compared with Yosemite National Park. These biologists investigated how the decades of radiation exposure may have possibly altered these animals' genomes and sped up their evolution.

Animals Under The CEZ

The scientists from the University of South Carolina and the Gnome Research Institute put the plan into action. They began examining the DNA of 302 feral dogs that were found to roam around CEZ. The aim is to understand how radiation has altered their genomes.

Co-author and dog genomics expert Elaine Ostrander provided an eye-opener for readers when she dropped these questions at the New York Times: Is there some kind of mutation that they've acquired that allowed them to breed successfully in the region, and What challenges do they face, now that they coped genetically?

Radiation speeding up natural evolution isn't some new science concept. There is also the practice of purposefully irradiating seeds in outer space to induce an advantageous mutation. Its advantages include a well-worn method for developing crops that are suited for a warming world.

Not only do these scientists focus on dogs, but they've also been exploring other animals that inhabit the area, such as bacteria, rodents, and birds. One study in 2016 found that Eastern tree frogs (Hyla orientalis), which are born green in color, were commonly black in the CEZ. Biologists theorize that frogs may have experienced a beneficial mutation that can only be found in melanin pigments. They help to dissipate and neutralize the surrounding radiation.

The Case of Chernobyl's Wild Dogs

With all that being said, scientists raised the question: Could something similar happen to Chernobyl's wild dogs?

The study found that feral dogs living in and around the Chernobyl Power Plant showed distinct genetic differences from dogs living 10 miles away from the inhabited Chernobyl City. This is one heavy implication that these dogs may have undergone rapid mutation or evolution due to their exposure to radiation. This is the first step in proving the hypothesis.