February 10, 2014

How do polar bears stay warm? Research finds an answer in their genes


New study is part of a broader genomic research program aimed at understanding what makes a polar bear a polar bear

In the winter, brown and black bears go into hibernation to conserve energy and keep warm.

But things are different for their Arctic relative, the polar bear. Within this high-latitude species, only pregnant females den up for the colder months.

So how do the rest survive the extreme Arctic winters?