A population of wild dogs living near the Chernobyl exclusion zone is now giving scientists a glimpse into how long-term radiation exposure affects generations.
A study analyzed the DNA of feral dogs living near Chernobyl, compared the animals to others living 10 miles away, and found remarkable differences.
The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster initiated a series of catastrophic events resulting in long-term and wide-spread environmental contamination. We characterize the genetic structure of 302 dogs representing three free -roaming dog populations living within the power plant itself, as well as those 15...
However, this study provides a template for further investigation into the effects of radiation on larger mammals, as the DNA of dogs roaming the Chernobyl Power Plant and nearby Chernobyl City can be compared to dogs living in non-irradiated areas. Despite a current lack of firm conclusions, ...
“We have rescued the first puppies, they are now in our adoption shelter going through the quarantine and decontamination process,” Lucas Hixson, co-founder of the U.S.-basedClean Futures Fund, a non-profit created to take care of Chernobyl clean-up workers, their families and the dogs ...
By studying tiny changes in the DNA known as SNPs, the team were able to measure genetic similarity in these populations. Comparing Chernobyl's dogs to pure-bred canines from elsewhere in Europe, the team revealed that one group of canines living close to the Chernobyl Nuclear...
Oxana Malaya wasdiscoveredin Ukraine in 1994. According to accounts, a neighbor noticed there was a little girl living in the woods and contacted authorities. When Malaya was discovered, she was living with a pack ofwild dogs. The dogs instinctively protected Malaya from the officers, having acc...
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The dogs still living around the exclusion zone are likely descendants of pets left behind after residents surrounding the Chernobyl power plant fled the region in a hurry, leaving behind all their belongings, including their four-legged companions, Tim Mousseau,...