Chernobyl wolves develop cancer resistance

Study of mutations in breed that survived nuclear disaster may raise odds of fighting disease in humans

WOLVES living near the Chernobyl nuclear plant have evolved to withstand cancer-causing radiation, scientists believe.

The Chernobyl wolves are exposed to about 11.28 millirem of radiation every day, which is more than six times the legal safety limit for the average human worker.

Evolutionary biologists from Princeton University have been studying blood samples from wolves inside and outside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) – a 1,000sqm area cleared of human activity after the disaster.

The team found that wolves living in the CEZ had altered immune systems, similar to cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment, as well as genetic changes that seem to protect against the disease. It hopes that the study will eventually identify proactive mutations which could increase the odds of fighting cancer in humans.

The Chernobyl disaster occurred on April 26 1986 with the explosion of reactor number four at the nuclear power plant causing an updraft of radioactivity which spread across Europe.

Two people died immediately and 29 within the coming days of acute radiation syndrome, while the United Nations estimated some 4,000 more succumbed to the fallout. Many women aborted their babies for fear they would be affected by radiation poisoning.

However, in recent years, researchers have found that closing off surrounding land to humans has allowed wildlife to flourish, with the area now a haven for lynx, bison, brown bear, wolves, boar and deer as well as 60 rare plant species.

The exclusion zone currently represents the third-largest nature reserve in mainland Europe and is often considered an accidental experiment in rewilding.

Previous studies showed that exposure to radiation speeds up the genetic mutation rate among plants, with some species evolving new chemistry that makes them more resistant to radiation damage and protects their DNA.

Scientists have pointed out that in the past when early plants were evolving, levels of natural radiation on Earth were far higher than now, so species may be able to switch on dormant traits to survive.

However, it was unknown whether the same protective adaptations would be seen in larger animals.

The study was presented at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology’s annual meeting in Seattle.

Wolves in an abandoned village in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone of Ukraine