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The Feral Dogs of Chernobyl Are Experiencing Rapid Evolution, Study Suggests Have the canines acquired strange mutations living near the power plant?
popular mechanics magazine ^ | Published: Nov 27, 2024 9:53 AM EST | By Darren Orf

Posted on 02/24/2025 9:12:07 AM PST by dennisw

For decades, scientists have studied animals living in or near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to see how increased levels of radiation affect their health, growth, and evolution.

A study analyzed the DNA of 302 feral dogs living near the power plant, compared the animals to others living 10 miles away, and found remarkable differences.

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor in northern Ukraine—then part of the Soviet Union—exploded, sending a massive plume of radiation into the sky. Nearly four decades later, the Chernobyl Power Plant and many parts of the surrounding area remain uninhabited—by humans, at least.

Animals of all kinds have thrived in humanity’s absence. Living among radiation-resistant fauna are thousands of feral dogs, many of whom are descendants of pets left behind in the speedy evacuation of the area so many years ago. As the world’s greatest nuclear disaster approaches its 40th anniversary.

Biologists are now taking a closer look at the animals located inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), which is about the size of Yosemite National Park, and investigating how decades of radiation exposure may have altered animals’ genomes—and even, possibly, sped up evolution.

The idea of radiation speeding up natural evolution isn’t a new one. The practice of purposefully irradiating seeds in outer space to induce advantageous mutations, for example, is now a well-worn method for developing crops well-suited for a warming world.

Scientists have been analyzing certain animals living within the CEZ for years, including bacteria, rodents, and even birds. One study back in 2016 found that Eastern tree frogs (Hyla orientalis), which are usually a green color, were more commonly black within the CEZ. The biologists theorize that the frogs experienced a beneficial mutation in melanin—pigments responsible for skin color—that helped dissipate and neutralize some of the surrounding radiation.

(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Education; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: barkolution; chernobyl; dna; dogs
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To: dennisw

They could just study Cali progressives if they want to look at mutants.


41 posted on 02/24/2025 10:07:15 AM PST by dljordan
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To: dennisw

This would be similar to Godzilla, who was a mutant created by all the nuclear tests in the Pacific and then destroyed Tokyo.


42 posted on 02/24/2025 10:07:30 AM PST by phil00071 (ka )
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To: dennisw

The fact that inbreeding of the populations is difficult to “suss out” as they said...indicates this will be a very low powered study. What they need to do is completely sequence every, I mean every, gene. Compare that to an animal outside the breeding zones total genes in that study animal, and also check the epigenetic apparatus in both animals. Factor out mutagenic sunlight, cosmic rays, background ground radiation, chemicals, and foods.
Like I say, a very very, low powered study.


43 posted on 02/24/2025 10:15:09 AM PST by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find. )
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To: phil00071

“This would be similar to Godzilla, who was a mutant created by all the nuclear tests in the Pacific and then destroyed Tokyo.”

Rodan too. Though iirc he was dormant, until A-bomb tests woke him up.


44 posted on 02/24/2025 10:21:21 AM PST by dennisw (DËMÔNràts - Truth is hate to people who hate truth.)
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To: dennisw

Chernobyl COULD HAVE BEEN a disaster, but IT WASN’T!

The HYPE over Chernobyl has been occurring ever since the LOCAL event.

Anti-Nukers just keep lying about the effects of Chernobyl.

They keep looking but all they can find is that green frogs have adapted and become black frogs.

“residents and their pets have begun moving back into Chernobyl City” Some people never left the area. They are all just fine.

It was a local event, localized at the plant itself.

They do tours there.


45 posted on 02/24/2025 10:27:42 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: Red Badger

Where did you get the picture of my friends Russian mail order bride?


46 posted on 02/24/2025 10:33:15 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Privatize the administrative state!)
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To: Quality_Not_Quantity

They are, after all, still dogs.

Yes they are, but they are telepathic and can levitate.


47 posted on 02/24/2025 10:52:27 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: All

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Dogman


48 posted on 02/24/2025 10:59:04 AM PST by Reily (a)
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To: dennisw
I was suspecting the worst:

TheThingDogCreature

"Who's a good boy?"

49 posted on 02/24/2025 12:00:27 PM PST by MikelTackNailer (No sense of humor indicates damaged or malformed personality.)
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To: alternatives?

“Outdoorsmen are suddenly disappearing. Picture 15 foot tall pit bulls that have developed a taste for human flesh.”

- - - - - - - - -
“In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 521 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. |” . . .

https://www.dogsbite.org/

https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2019.php


50 posted on 02/24/2025 3:01:33 PM PST by Norski (You can’t fix stupid, but you can stun it with a tire iron.)
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