Scientists have identified genetic changes in polar bears that could help them cope with a warming climate, offering cautious hope for the species as Arctic ice continues to melt.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia found that polar bears in south-east Greenland show different genetic activity from those in colder northern regions. The study, published in Mobile DNA, links rising temperatures to increased activity of so-called “jumping genes” — mobile DNA elements that can alter how other genes function.
These changes affect genes linked to heat stress, metabolism and ageing, suggesting bears in warmer areas may be adjusting to new environmental pressures. South-eastern Greenland bears experience higher and more variable temperatures and rely more on plant-based or mixed diets, unlike northern bears that depend heavily on fatty seals. Their DNA appears to be adapting to these conditions, particularly in genes involved in fat processing and energy use.
The researchers say this is the first statistically significant evidence connecting climate change to DNA changes in a wild mammal. While the findings could help identify which polar bear populations are more resilient or vulnerable, scientists stress this does not remove the threat of extinction. They warn that without rapid cuts to global carbon emissions, genetic adaptation alone will not be enough to save the species.
