In a startling new study published Friday in the journal Mobile DNA, researchers from the University of East Anglia have found that polar bears are rapidly rewiring their own genetics to cope with a warming Arctic.
The Study
The research, led by Alice Godden, examined blood samples from polar bears in northeastern and southeastern Greenland. In the slightly warmer south, genes linked to heat stress, aging and metabolism behaved differently from those in northern bears, indicating a genetic response to temperature differences.
Genetic Adaptations
\”Essentially this means that different groups of bears are having different sections of their DNA changed at different rates, and this activity seems linked to their specific environment and climate,\” Godden said in a university press release. The study shows that the southern group’s DNA is evolving faster, a phenomenon described as a \”desperate survival mechanism against melting sea ice.\”
Environmental Drivers
The Arctic Ocean has repeatedly experienced record‑high temperatures in the past few years, according to NOAA monitoring data. Warming ocean temperatures have reduced vital sea‑ice platforms that the bears use to hunt seals, leading to isolation and food scarcity. This scarcity has driven genetic changes as the animals’ digestive system adapts to a diet of plants and low fats in the absence of prey, Godden told NBC News.
\”Food availability is a real problem for these bears — everywhere, but most prominently in the south,\” she added. \”This may suggest their body shape and composition is also changing in response to their warmer environments.\”
Implications and Outlook
The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates there are currently about 26,000 polar bears worldwide. Scientifically known as Ursus maritimus, the species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. Godden cautioned that the study \”does not mean that polar bears are at any less risk of extinction,\” but noted it may \”provide a genetic blueprint for how polar bears might be able to adapt quickly to climate change.\”
\”Polar bears are still sadly expected to go extinct this century, with two-thirds of the population gone by 2050,\” Godden told NBC News. \”I believe our work really does offer a glimmer of hope — a window of opportunity for us to reduce our carbon emissions to slow down the rate of climate change and to give these bears more time to adapt to these stark changes in their habitats.\”
She added: \”We all must do more to mitigate our carbon emissions to help provide and extend this window of opportunity to help save this wonderful vital species.\”
Key Takeaways
- Polar bears are showing rapid genetic changes in response to warming temperatures.
- The study highlights that southern Greenland bears are adapting faster than northern bears.
- Despite these adaptations, the species remains vulnerable with a projected 66% population loss by 2050.
The research offers a rare glimpse into how a mammal may genetically respond to climate change, but it also underscores the urgent need for emission reductions to preserve polar bear populations and the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
