Polar Bears Adapting to Climate Change
Tuesday, 2025/12/16148 words2 minutes990 reads
Recent research from the University of East Anglia has revealed that polar bears might be adapting to warmer climates through changes in their DNA. Scientists discovered that certain genes related to heat-stress, ageing, and metabolism are behaving differently in polar bears living in southeastern Greenland.
This genetic adaptation offers some hope for the survival of polar bears in the face of climate change. Dr Alice Godden, the lead researcher, suggests that these changes could provide a vital 'genetic blueprint' for conservation efforts. However, she emphasizes that efforts to limit global temperature increases must continue.
The study also found changes in gene expression areas linked to fat processing. This is particularly important as polar bears face food scarcity due to melting sea ice, which they typically use as platforms for hunting seals. These genetic changes might be helping the bears slowly adapt to rougher, plant-based diets in warmer climates.
