A study published in Genes on September 27, 2026, reports genomic signals consistent with natural selection in dogs near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Its analysis found candidate genetic regions associated with several biological pathways, but it did not identify a specific cause or demonstrate a survival benefit. (Read the study.)
What the genetic analysis found
The researchers used OutFLANK, a method for identifying genetic markers that stand out in comparisons among populations. It flagged 1,574 outlier loci overall, with 1,138 assigned to the plant-area dogs. The study also reports 111 candidate regions containing 1,093 outlier loci that were supported by at least three analytical approaches.
These are signals consistent with selection, not verified adaptive traits. Researchers compared the plant-area dogs with other dog groups, including isolated Galápagos populations; those island populations did not show the same pattern. The authors conclude that isolation alone is unlikely to account for the plant-area dogs’ genetic differentiation.
How many dogs were included?
The whole-genome dataset began with 106 dogs sampled in 2018 and 2019. After researchers excluded close relatives and dogs whose genetic clustering did not match their sampling location, the location-specific analysis included 63 dogs: 33 from near the plant and 30 from Chornobyl City.
| Analysis stage | Population or data scope | Result |
| Initial whole-genome dataset | Dogs sampled in 2018–2019: 58 near the plant and 48 in Chornobyl City | 106 dogs |
| Location-specific whole-genome analysis | After exclusions: 33 near the plant and 30 in Chornobyl City | 63 dogs |
| OutFLANK scan | 4,828,448 filtered loci across the plant-area, city, mixed-breed and purebred groups | 1,574 outlier loci overall; 1,138 assigned to the plant-area group |
| Regions supported by multiple analyses | Candidate regions with support from at least three analytical approaches | 111 regions containing 1,093 outlier loci |
The counts describe different stages and analyses. The 106 dogs are the initial whole-genome sample; the 63 are the location-specific group retained after filtering. The outlier and region counts refer to genetic markers and candidate regions, not additional dogs.
What the candidate regions may indicate
Pathway analysis associated genes near the candidate regions with DNA replication and repair, cell survival, immune functions and cancer-related pathways. These associations point to biological areas for further study; they do not show that the variants changed those functions in the dogs.
The study does not identify radiation as the cause of the genomic signals. It does not separate radiation from other potential environmental pressures, including heavy metals, organic compounds and pesticides. Nor does it demonstrate radiation resistance or another specific survival advantage in the dogs.
