According to news on December 14, American scientists recently pointed out that stray dogs near the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site showed immunity to radiation, heavy metals and pollution.Scientists collected blood samples from 116 stray dogs in the Chernobyl exclusion zone and found that the two populations were genetically significantly different from surrounding dogs and had adapted to long-term exposure to toxic environments.
This discovery not only helps to understand the survival mechanism of dogs in harsh environments, but also provides clues for studying the impact of long-term exposure to multiple environmental hazards on human health.
It is estimated that there are 900 stray dogs in the quarantine area, most of which are the descendants of pets left by evacuated residents.
The research team found nearly 400 abnormal gene loci and 52 related genes, which may be related to environmental pollution exposure.
Additionally, mutant wolves and eastern tree frogs have shown resilience to toxic environments. Scientists hope these studies will deepen our understanding of how environmental hazards affect humans and explore ways to mitigate health risks.