Chernobyl Dogs Evolve Unique Traits Amid Radiation Exposure

Stray dogs living near the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site have developed genetic adaptations that allow them to thrive in the radioactive environment, according to a study published in the Canine Medicine and Genetics journal. Researchers found that these dogs, likely descendants of pets left behind during the 1986 evacuation, have unique genomic variations potentially linked to radiation exposure. This discovery adds to ongoing research on how animals and potentially humans might adapt to or safely return to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.