Genome Analysis Reveals How Subarctic Horses Adapt To Frigid Environments

Plants and Animals





Photo credit:

Yakutian horse, archaeological excavation. Patrice Gérard-CNRS-Mission Archeologique Francaise en Siberie Orientale

Yakutia in the Siberian Far East is one of the coldest places on Earth. Temperatures can drop below −70°C (-94°F) in the wintertime. But with their hairy winter coats, squat bodies, stubby limbs, and various other adaptations, native Yakutian horses thrive there in the open air year-round. Now, researchers analyzing their genomes reveal that these horses represent one of the fastest cases of adaptation to extreme temperatures. The findings are published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week.