Scientists at Uppsala University in Sweden have found that hot climates contribute to dangerous genetic mutations that affect the function of proteins. This, in turn, will affect the ability of organisms to adapt and survive in a new environment. This is reported in an article published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The researchers analyzed theoretical models of protein functioning, which they combined with data on the effect of mutations on different life forms in different habitats. Experiments were carried out with beetles carrying several mutations, as well as with yeast, bacteria, viruses, Arabidopsis, roundworms, and fruit flies.
Experts have determined how organisms lived before and after the appearance of mutations in changing environmental conditions. The goal was to find out if external stressors could amplify the deleterious effects of DNA changes. To do this, scientists raised the temperature and looked at the final effect.
It turned out that the higher temperature of the environment increases the impact of harmful mutations. According to calculations, if the global temperature of the Earth rises by 2-4 degrees Celsius, then the negative consequences of changes in DNA in tropical species of living organisms will double.
