Polar Bears in Southern Greenland Are 'Using Jumping Genes to Rapidly Rewrite Their Own DNA' to Survive Melting Sea Ice

Polar bears in southern Greenland are 'using jumping genes to rapidly rewrite their own DNA' to survive melting sea ice

Warming temperatures appear to be driving genetic mutations in some polar bears to help them survive the shifting climatic conditions.

Climate change is rewriting polar bear DNA

This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Changes in polar bear DNA that could help the animals adapt to warmer climates have been detected by researchers in a study thought to be the first time a statistically significant link has been found between rising temperatures and changing DNA in a wild mammal species. Climate breakdown is threatening the survival of polar bear…

New Study: Are Polar Bears Adapting to Warmer Climates?

A subset of polar bears appear to be adapting to warmer climates, according to a new study. How are they doing this, exactly? Researchers believe the bears’ DNA is literally changing to help them survive in warmer conditions. “Scientists have found that some genes related to heat stress, aging and metabolism are behaving differently in polar bears living in south-east Greenland, suggesting they may be adjusting to warmer conditions,” wrote The G…