Polar Bears Adapt Genetically to Survive Climate Change Threats

Polar bears are rewiring their own genetics to survive climate change, according to a study reported by NBC News. This research, led by Godden and her team at the University of Washington, analyzed blood samples from polar bears in northeastern and southeastern Greenland.

The findings reveal that in the warmer southeastern region, genes associated with heat stress, aging, and metabolism show different behaviors compared to those in the colder northeastern bears. Godden stated that this indicates that distinct groups of polar bears are experiencing changes in their DNA at varying rates, directly linked to their specific environmental conditions.

The genetic adaptations are a response to the loss of sea ice platforms due to warming ocean temperatures, which has led to food scarcity as polar bears rely on seals for hunting. As a result, some bears are adapting their digestive systems to a diet consisting of plants and lower fat content in the absence of their typical prey.

Godden emphasized that this genetic change represents a desperate survival mechanism against the rapidly melting sea ice. She expressed hope that understanding these adaptations might provide a window of opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change, allowing more time for polar bears to adapt to their changing habitats.