Polar Bears Have the answer to Climate Change

Zaneyah Hughes

Genetics 

Dr. Barbato 

15 Dec 2025

Polar Bears Have the Answer To Climate Change

This article says that polar bears in a region of Greenland are showing DNA changes connected to rising temperatures, thanks to research from the University of East Anglia. This is significant since this marks the first connection between climate change and genetic change in wild mammals. Additionally, scientists discovered that gene activity related to things like metabolism, ageing, and heat stress increased in bears from warmer regions. This suggests that the polar bears are adapting to warmer regions, and thus adapting to climate change.

I like how the article shows that the way the scientists know this adaptation is occurring is through jumping genes, or segments of DNA that can move or jump to different locations within a genome. Additionally, I think its really cool how the polar bears are starting to rewrite their DNA as a survival mechanism since reducing the burning of fossil fuels doesn’t seem to be happening as urgently as wildlife needs it. Although this is a great adaption and its wonderful that the polar bears are able to developing a survival mechanism, we should still discourage the use of green emissions to try to save their habitat.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/12/changes-to-polar-bear-dna-could-help-them-adapt-to-global-heating-study-finds

Extra Source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/polar-bears-rewiring-genetics-survive-warming-climate/6429583/

This Chemical Could Be In Your Water - A Long-Lasting Battle With Dioxins

 

Photo of a nuclear reactor factory producing Dioxin residues, given by Medical News Today.

   Dioxin comes in a shape that no other human and animal can perceive. This chemical is one of, if not, the most dangerous available chemical out in the industrial market. However, Dioxin is proven to be emitted through other methods, far beyond the industrialist scope. Presence of Dioxin was observed in a region in Germany, most specifically, a chemical production plant in the country's backyard.¹ Dioxin was disregarded, presumptuously because of the ideas of revolutionizing production. Furthermore, formations of markets and culmination of modern-day industries added onto this shrugged off chemical conflict.

Photo provided by Environmental Working Group on the topics of Dioxin production.

Dioxin's characteristics are relatively consistent. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences brands them to be a "persistent organic pollutant.²" This is due to the fact that one of their characteristics contributes to slow degradation upon being released into the environment. Some of the human concerns across the world regarding Dioxins "originate from waste incineration, both commercial and municipal," states the Environmental Protection Agency.³ In spite of this, Dioxins internationally remain, Germany's aforementioned history with Dioxin being a good example.

Photo of a Ohio Derailment Site that was reported to contain a "carcinogenic chemical," provided by The Guardian.

Observing Dioxin at an international scope leads to some of the most populated countries across the world inheriting these chemicals. One of these said countries is China, a manufacturing industrialist powerhouse that holds the weight of contributing to phones, household appliances, and much more. A study in 2021 was conducted by scientists at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, housed in Beijing, China. "The first PCDD/Fs emission inventory in 2004.. was 10.2 kg," scientists report, "..Dioxin reduction of China would be of great use to the world."⁴ China continues to battle with Dioxins as of 2025, especially when it houses a massive population on the country's own soil.

Demographic provided by the Eco-Environmental Science Center in Beijing, China.

As stated from the Dioxin conflict with China, Dioxin emissions and methods for Dioxin waste dumps are severely detrimental to humans as well.  This is in part of Dioxin's long-lasting survival amidst living in the atmosphere. The National Institute of Health further analyzed the effects of Dioxin, "Adverse health effects of Dioxin exposure .. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, porphyria .. altered growth factor signaling and altered metabolism.¹" Dioxin, through unsupervised waste dumping, "can get into drinking water through chemical factories," the Environmental Protection Agency adds.

Photo provided by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Dioxin, as a chemical threat, has been recognized by multiple governments across the world. Similarly, the United States government prevents the manufacturing, production, and trade of Dioxin products. European governments partook in the interest of regulating Dioxin chemicals, but have not successfully prevented or halted the chemicals production.⁵ Regardless of European factories comprising to being the backbone of the continent, regulatory levels of Dioxin is incomparably weak. Dioxin, as a chemical alone, must cease existing overall. Dioxin, overall, harms not only human wellbeing, but animal wellbeing as well. Maintaining Dioxin production is bearing the weight of a massive loss that is to come. Thus, action towards Dioxin internationally has yet to show proper progression.

References

¹ White, S. S., & Birnbaum, L. S. (2009, October). An overview of the effects of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds on vertebrates, as documented in human and ecological epidemiology. Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2788749/#S4

² U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Dioxins. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/dioxins 

³ Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Learn About Dioxin. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/dioxin/learn-about-dioxin

⁴ Jorg, R. (Ed.). (n.d.). Global status of dioxin emission and China’s role in reducing the emission. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389421012292

⁵ Regulation - 2017/644 - en - EUR-lex. EUR. (n.d.). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/644/oj/eng

Image References

MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Dioxins: Definition, dangers, sources, types, and more. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17685#sources

Dioxin | environmental Working Group. (n.d.-a). https://www.ewg.org/research/dioxin

Guardian News and Media. (2023, March 17). Levels of carcinogenic chemical near Ohio derailment site far above safe limit. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/17/norfolk-southern-derailment-east-palestine-ohio-carcinogenic-chemical-levels

 

Crops Designed to Survive in a Warming World

 As climate change makes farming more difficult, genetically engineered crops are becoming an important solution to help ensure we have enough food. Scientists are developing crops that can handle tough conditions, like drought, heat, and pests. For example, drought-resistant corn and soybeans are being created to conserve water in dry areas. Other crops, like insect-resistant cotton and corn, produce their own natural pesticides, which reduces the need for harmful chemicals. This makes farming more sustainable and helps farmers deal with the unpredictable effects of climate change.
These crops have the potential to make farming more efficient, allowing farmers to grow more food using fewer resources. They can also reduce the environmental harm caused by farming, such as overuse of water and pesticides. This is especially important as the world’s population continues to grow and climate change makes farming harder.

However, there are some concerns about these crops. People worry that genetically modified (GM) plants could crossbreed with wild plants, creating new problems like resistant weeds or pests. While studies show that GM foods are safe to eat, there are still debates about the long-term effects on health. There’s also the issue of big companies controlling the technology behind GM crops, which could make them too expensive for small farmers, especially in poorer countries.