Researchers from Princeton University have found that the wolf population in the area of Ukraine and Belarus has performed well, with a 2015 census finding that wolf abundance was more than seven times higher. They found 3,180 genes that behave differently in the Chernobyl wolves compared to other populations. These genes are associated with higher survival rates for some cancers in humans. The researchers believe that four decades of eating radioactive prey may have left a mark on the wolves’ DNA, which could either lead to decreased cancer exposure or resistance. The team is now working with cancer biologists to determine if any of this has a direct application to human cancer treatment.