Scientists have identified genetic changes in polar bears that could help them adapt to rising temperatures, marking what researchers believe is the first statistically significant link between climate change and DNA shifts in a wild mammal.
A study by the University of East Anglia found that polar bears in south-east Greenland show different genetic activity compared with those in colder northern regions. Researchers analysed blood samples and focused on so-called “jumping genes” – mobile DNA elements that influence how other genes function.
The study found that these jumping genes were far more active in bears living in warmer, less icy environments. The affected genes are linked to heat stress, ageing, metabolism and fat processing, suggesting the animals may be undergoing rapid genetic adjustments in response to climate pressures.
Lead researcher Dr Alice Godden said rising temperatures appear to be driving increased genetic activity in southern Greenland bears, potentially helping them cope with reduced sea ice and changing diets. Bears in warmer areas rely more on varied, sometimes plant-based food sources compared with the seal-rich diets of northern populations.
The findings, published in the journal Mobile DNA, may help scientists understand which polar bear populations are most at risk and guide future conservation efforts. However, researchers stressed that genetic adaptation alone will not be enough to save the species.
With two-thirds of polar bears predicted to disappear by 2050 if warming continues, the authors said cutting fossil fuel emissions remains essential to slowing temperature rises and preventing extinction.
