High levels of genetic change in rodents of Chernobyl

Robert J. Baker; Ronald A. Van Den Bussche; Amanda J. Wright; Lara E. Wiggins; Meredith J. Hamilton; Erin P. Reat; Michael H. Smith; Michael D. Lomakin; Ronald K. Chesser

doi:10.1038/380707a0

High levels of genetic change in rodents of Chernobyl

Robert J. Baker, Ronald A. Van Den Bussche, Amanda J. Wright, Lara E. Wiggins, Meredith J. Hamilton, Erin P. Reat, Michael H. Smith, Michael D. Lomakin, Ronald K. Chesser

Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Base-pair substitution rates for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of free-living, native populations of voles collected next to reactor 4 at Chernobyl, Ukraine, were estimated by two independent methods to be in excess of 10^-4 nucleotides per site per generation. These estimates are hundreds of times greater than those typically found in mitochondria of vertebrates, suggesting that the environment resulting from this nuclear power plant disaster is having a measurable genetic impact on the organisms of that region. Despite these DNA changes, vole populations thrive and reproduce in the radioactive regions around the Chernobyl reactor.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	707-708
Number of pages	2
Journal	Nature
Volume	380
Issue number	6576
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/380707a0
State	Published - Apr 25 1996

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title = "High levels of genetic change in rodents of Chernobyl",

abstract = "Base-pair substitution rates for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of free-living, native populations of voles collected next to reactor 4 at Chernobyl, Ukraine, were estimated by two independent methods to be in excess of 10-4 nucleotides per site per generation. These estimates are hundreds of times greater than those typically found in mitochondria of vertebrates, suggesting that the environment resulting from this nuclear power plant disaster is having a measurable genetic impact on the organisms of that region. Despite these DNA changes, vole populations thrive and reproduce in the radioactive regions around the Chernobyl reactor.",

author = "Baker, {Robert J.} and {Van Den Bussche}, {Ronald A.} and Wright, {Amanda J.} and Wiggins, {Lara E.} and Hamilton, {Meredith J.} and Reat, {Erin P.} and Smith, {Michael H.} and Lomakin, {Michael D.} and Chesser, {Ronald K.}",

year = "1996",

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doi = "10.1038/380707a0",

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AU - Baker, Robert J.

AU - Van Den Bussche, Ronald A.

AU - Wright, Amanda J.

AU - Wiggins, Lara E.

AU - Hamilton, Meredith J.

AU - Reat, Erin P.

AU - Smith, Michael H.

AU - Lomakin, Michael D.

AU - Chesser, Ronald K.

PY - 1996/4/25

Y1 - 1996/4/25

N2 - Base-pair substitution rates for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of free-living, native populations of voles collected next to reactor 4 at Chernobyl, Ukraine, were estimated by two independent methods to be in excess of 10-4 nucleotides per site per generation. These estimates are hundreds of times greater than those typically found in mitochondria of vertebrates, suggesting that the environment resulting from this nuclear power plant disaster is having a measurable genetic impact on the organisms of that region. Despite these DNA changes, vole populations thrive and reproduce in the radioactive regions around the Chernobyl reactor.

AB - Base-pair substitution rates for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of free-living, native populations of voles collected next to reactor 4 at Chernobyl, Ukraine, were estimated by two independent methods to be in excess of 10-4 nucleotides per site per generation. These estimates are hundreds of times greater than those typically found in mitochondria of vertebrates, suggesting that the environment resulting from this nuclear power plant disaster is having a measurable genetic impact on the organisms of that region. Despite these DNA changes, vole populations thrive and reproduce in the radioactive regions around the Chernobyl reactor.

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JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 6576

ER -

High levels of genetic change in rodents of Chernobyl

Abstract

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