Short Wave
Wolves Are Thriving In The Radioactive Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
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Quick takeaways
- The gray wolf population within the Chernobyl exclusion zone has thrived due to natural selection and genetic adaptations that protect them from radiation exposure.
- The absence of human interference within the Chernobyl exclusion zone has contributed to the success of the gray wolf population, potentially leading to the evolution of genes that offer resilience or resistance to cancer, providing potential therapeutic targets for human cancer treatments.
Deep dives
The Ghost Towns of Chernobyl
After the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, the surrounding areas in Ukraine and Belarus became ghost towns. The most heavily contaminated area, known as the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ), was evacuated by over 100,000 people. However, researchers have discovered that within the CEZ, an entire functional ecosystem has developed, including gray wolves. The wolves in the CEZ have been estimated to be seven times as dense as populations in other protected areas. Scientists suspect that the radiation exposure from Chernobyl might have driven natural selection and caused the gray wolf population to evolve in ways that protect them from radiation. By studying the wolves' genetics and immune response, researchers hope to identify the genes that provide resilience or resistance to cancer, which could potentially inform human cancer treatments.
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