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MOSCOW, March 8. The genome of roundworms from the Chernobyl exclusion zone turned out to be immune to the effects of radiation, scientists from New York University reported in an article for the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Biologists compared roundworms of the species Oscheius tipulae from places with different levels of radiation pollution on the territory of the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
“We <…> analyzed their genomes looking for traces of recent mutations and found no evidence of a connection between mutations and radiation levels at collection sites,” the article states.
The scientists explained the choice of worms as an object of study due to the ubiquity of these animals and the simplicity of their genome.
“Understanding how individuals react differently to environmental factors that damage DNA will help us better assess the risks to ourselves «, one of the authors of the article, Sofia Tintori, said in a press release.
Animals living in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have more than once surprised scientists with various features associated with a high level of radiation pollution of the environment. Thus, earlier, from a study by biologist Kara Love, it became known that the genes of Chernobyl wolves protect them from cancer diseases associated with long-term irradiation.