Jakarta, domclub Indonesia
—
Recent studies reveal
polar bear
in southern Greenland experienced concomitant genetic mutations
climate crisis
which is getting worse.Increasing temperatures due to warming of the earth and shrinking sea ice are thought to be triggering factors for genetic mutations in this species.
Polar bears face serious challenges due to the climate crisis.Global sea ice levels fell to historic lows in February, and global warming is causing sea levels to rise.
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These changes threaten polar bears, which live and hunt on shrinking ice sheets.
Research conducted by scientists from the University of East Anglia, found a correlation between changes in polar bear DNA and rising temperatures.This research was published in the journal Mobile DNA, which was published on Friday (12/12).
“This research shows, for the first time, that a group of polar bears in the hottest part of Greenland uses ‘jumping genes’ to rapidly change their own DNA, which may be a desperate survival mechanism against melting sea ice,” said Alice Godden, lead author of the study, reported
LiveScience
, Tuesday (16/12).
Jumping genes, also known as transposons or transposable elements, are segments of DNA that can move to different locations in the genome.When transposons get into certain locations, they can affect how other genes work.
According to the researchers, more than a third of the polar bear’s genome consists of transposable elements, while in plants this figure can reach 70 percent.On the other hand, transposons account for about 45 percent of the human genome.
The researchers argue that transposons are likely helping polar bears adapt to climate change.
A previous study published in the journal Science in 2022 described an isolated polar bear population in southern Greenland that was less dependent on sea ice.
This group separated from bear communities in northern Greenland about 200 years ago, resulting in genetic differences between the two populations.This new research builds on previous findings.
The researchers analyzed the DNA of 17 adult polar bears in Greenland, 12 of which came from the cooler northeastern region and five from the warmer southeastern region.
They then compared transposon activity in the two populations and correlated it with climate data.Changes in genes related to heat stress, aging, metabolism, and fat processing were observed in populations in the southeastern region.
This change is important when food is scarce.According to the study, these changes indicate that bears may be adapting to warmer climatic conditions.
“By comparing the active genes of these bears with local climate data, we found that rising temperatures appear to be the main factor driving the dramatic increase in the activity of jumping genes in the DNA of bears in southeast Greenland,” Godden said.
“Essentially, this means that different groups of bears undergo changes in parts of their DNA at different rates, and this activity appears to be related to their specific environments and climates,” he continued.
Godden warned that the climate crisis remains a real threat to polar bears, even though they have the potential to adapt to a warmer climate and less ice.
“We shouldn’t let our guard down; this provides some hope, but it doesn’t mean polar bears are at any less risk of extinction,” he said.
“We still need to do everything we can to reduce global carbon emissions and slow temperature rise,” concluded Godden.
(wpj/dmi)
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