Eisbären verändern ihre eigene Genetik, um in einem sich erwärmenden Klima zu überleben
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/greenland/polar-bears-adapting-survive-warming-climate-rcna248805
Eisbären verändern ihre eigene Genetik, um in einem sich erwärmenden Klima zu überleben
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/greenland/polar-bears-adapting-survive-warming-climate-rcna248805
21 Kommentare
Study here: [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13100-025-00387-4](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13100-025-00387-4)
No they’re not, evolution is a passive process. Polar bears that have genetic variations that are better adapted to a warming climate are surviving to reproduce. That’s it.
They are not „rewiring their own genetics“. Bears who can’t deal with the warming climate simply die off
what in the not how this works
That’s a really weird way to describe evolution and natural selection. The ones that can survive warmer climates pass on their genes. The ones that can’t die
What an annoying way to say natural selection is at work in Polar Bears just the same as in any other living organism. I know its to engage an audience but it feels yucky to me.
I thought the same thing at first, but after seeing the study, I don’t think this is referring to natural selection and mutation (as every other comment so far is suggesting). I think it’s referring to epigenetics, which allows organisms to modify gene expression as a distinct process from the mutation and natural selection we refer to as evolution.
Just pictured a polar bear in a lab coat wearing those tiny glasses low on the nose.
What a bizarre way to say “evolving.”
“Rewriting their own genetics.” That’s not how it works. Selection pressure means that the ones who survive had favorable gene variants and this gets passed on. In other words, evolution as usual.
Can you get people who understand basic science to write the headlines please?
It’s called „Natural selection „.
„Polar bear wizards brew mutagenic potions to rewire their genetics in the face of climate change!“ That might as well be the headline.
You mean they are evolving
Generational span of polar bears is about 12 years. Climate change has only really started picking up pace in the past 20 years or so I think.
I’m surprised that’s long enough for any genetic changes. I was always taught that even human selective breeding of livestock took more generations than this.
That is called „evolving“ and the polar bears have no agency in it, so the title is misleading, probably deliberately.
You mean … Evolution?
What an overly fancy way to say natural selection.
Polar Bears have access to CRISPR?
I find it very annoying when these researchers pretend to speak authoritatively on bear behavior from their offices, desks and computer screens hundreds of miles removed from the living, breathing and thinking animal. Oh it’s going to go extinct is it? I don’t think accurate bear population data exists to back up that claim. It’s solely based on climate projections (not disputing those) and assumes the bear will just lay down and die.
I find it incredibly reductionist to solely attribute adaptations in animals, especially the polar bear, to deterministic genetic factors. The polar bear exhibits behavioural adaptation including the passing of intergenerational knowledge to their offspring through the mother.
Is this about epigenetics ?
Is this real time proof of evolution?