The stray dogs that roam near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant have long been the subject of fascination, partly due to the notorious radiation associated with the 1986 nuclear disaster. However, recent research reveals that these dogs are not the radioactive mutants that some might have imagined. Instead, scientists have found that the genetic differences between these dogs and those from the nearby city of Chernobyl are likely not the result of radiation-induced mutations.
A collaborative study conducted by researchers from North Carolina State (NC State) University and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, published in PLOS One on December 27, 2024, investigates the genetic divergence between two populations of dogs—those living near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and those in the nearby city of Chernobyl.
The study, led by Matthew Breen from NC State, found that while these dog populations are genetically distinct, the differences are unlikely to have been caused by radiation exposure. “We are trying to determine if low-level exposure over many years to environmental toxins such as radiation, lead, etc., could explain some of those differences,” Breen said in a statement. Earlier studies by the team identified almost 400 genetic regions showing divergence between the two populations, some associated with DNA repair. However, these differences do not appear to have resulted from mutations due to radiation.
The team compared the NPP dogs with those in nearby regions like Russia and Poland, which provided a control population. The researchers then conducted a detailed genetic analysis, starting from the chromosomal level and zooming in on smaller genetic features. What they found was surprising—there were no signs of mutations caused by radiation exposure, which could have been passed down through generations.
“We know that, for example, exposure to high doses of radiation can introduce instability from the chromosomal level on down,” Breen explained. Despite being at least 30 generations removed from the original dog population in 1986, the current dogs showed no genetic traits linked to radiation-induced mutations that would have provided any survival advantages.
However, the genetic differences between the two populations could still be the result of evolutionary pressures following the disaster. “It’s possible that the dogs that survived long enough to breed already had genetic traits that increased their ability to survive,” said Megan Dillon, who led the study. This suggests that while there may have been initial selective pressures caused by the disaster, the dogs at the NPP continued to evolve separately from the Chernobyl city population over time.
The research also pointed out that radiation wasn’t the only environmental toxin released during the Chernobyl disaster. Heavy metals, lead powder, pesticides, and asbestos were all part of the toxic fallout from the explosion and subsequent cleanup efforts, which likely also influenced the health and genetic makeup of local dog populations.
As a result, this study provides valuable insights into how environmental disasters—particularly those involving radiation—can affect wildlife and human populations over time. “The importance of continuing to study the environmental health aspects of large-scale disasters like this cannot be overemphasized,” said Norman Kleiman from Columbia University, another study co-author. The findings could help inform how future contamination crises may impact health and ecosystems.
Interestingly, despite the tragic events of the past, the stray dogs of Chernobyl are not the radioactive mutants often depicted in pop culture, such as in the Chernobyl Diaries movie. Rather, they represent the resilience of life amidst severe environmental challenges.
Related topics:
Locally Famous Dog Becomes Hero After Rescuing Owner
Dog Licenses Are a Thing of the Past in Okotoks
Jersey Dog Beats Cancer for the Fourth Time
