Chernobyl nematodes unaffected by radiation
The accident that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 in April 1986 in the former Soviet Union is said to be one of the worst nuclear accidents in history, and even after the accident, an exclusion zone was set up within a radius of about 30 km around the plant, which is still strictly controlled today. A research team from New York University announced the results of a genome analysis of nematodes that live within this exclusion zone.
Environmental radiation exposure at Chornobyl has not systematically affected the genomes or chemical mutagen tolerance phenotypes of local worms
Worms at Chernobyl Appear Mysteriously Unscathed by Radiation : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/worms-at-chernobyl-appear-mysteriously-unscathed-by-radiation
First, the research team collected nematodes from various locations within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The radiation levels at the collection sites were measured with a Geiger counter and ranged from 2 millisieverts to 4,786 millisieverts per year. The research team collected nematodes from 237 soil samples and ultimately succeeded in culturing 298 nematodes.
Next, the researchers conducted a genomic analysis of the collected nematodes. They sequenced the genomes of 15 nematodes ( Oscheius tipulae ) collected from Chernobyl and five of the same species from other parts of the world. Using both long-read and short-read DNA sequencing techniques, the team was able to obtain high-quality genome sequences. Comparative analysis showed no correlation between radiation levels at the collection sites and mutation rates, and no large-scale chromosomal rearrangements were observed.
Finally, the researchers tested the resistance of worms to DNA damage by measuring the growth rate of populations of worms exposed to three
These experiments suggest that the Chernobyl nematodes are not particularly resistant to radiation compared to nematodes from other areas, and the team argues that the genetic diversity of this species of nematode may be what allows them to survive in high radiation environments.
By Ian Bancroft
The existence of C. elegans lineages with different sensitivities to DNA damage could have important implications for cancer research: understanding why certain individuals are more resistant or sensitive to DNA damage than others may provide clues to understanding differences in susceptibility to cancer in humans.
The research team emphasizes that this research goes beyond mere ecological observations and has potential medical applications: Understanding DNA repair mechanisms is expected to be applied in various medical fields, such as cancer treatment and radiation protection.
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