Scientists have identified genetic changes in polar bears that could help them adapt to rising temperatures, offering new insight into how the species might respond to climate change.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia found that polar bears in south-east Greenland differ genetically from those in colder northern regions. By analysing blood samples, the team discovered increased activity in so-called “jumping genes” – mobile DNA elements that can influence how other genes function – in bears living in warmer conditions.
These genetic shifts are linked to processes such as heat stress, metabolism and ageing, and appear to be driven by higher and more variable temperatures in southern Greenland. The changes may also reflect dietary differences, as bears in warmer regions rely less on fatty seal prey and more on alternative food sources.
The findings, published in the journal Mobile DNA, are thought to be the first statistically significant evidence linking rising temperatures to DNA changes in a wild mammal. Scientists say this could help identify which polar bear populations are most at risk and guide conservation strategies.
However, researchers stressed that genetic adaptation alone will not save the species. With two-thirds of polar bears predicted to disappear by 2050 if warming continues, they said cutting global carbon emissions remains essential to preventing extinction.
