Scientists have identified genetic changes in polar bears that could help them adapt to rising temperatures, offering new insight into how the species may 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, they discovered increased activity in so-called “jumping genes” – mobile DNA elements that influence how other genes function – particularly in bears living in warmer environments.
The study, published in Mobile DNA, is believed to be the first to show a statistically significant link between climate warming and DNA changes in a wild mammal. The altered genes are linked to heat stress, metabolism and ageing, and may help bears cope with reduced sea ice, shifting prey and scarcer food supplies.
Bears in southern Greenland experience higher and more variable temperatures and appear to be adapting not only to heat but also to changes in diet, with genetic shifts linked to fat processing as they rely less on seals and more on alternative food sources.
While the findings suggest a potential biological response to climate pressure, researchers stressed this is not a solution to the wider threat facing polar bears. With up to two-thirds of the global population projected to disappear by 2050, the scientists warned that cutting fossil fuel emissions and slowing global heating remains critical to the species’ survival.
