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Collaborative Research: Genetics of Polar Bear Hair, Skin Color: Adaptations to the Arctic — NSF Award to Stanford University (CA,

Polar bears have numerous traits that not only give them their iconic appearance but are also adaptations to living in the Arctic environment. These include their large body size with thick fat layer, streamlined head to help dive after prey, and most-noticeable their white fur. While other species of bears live in tro

Award titleCollaborative Research: Genetics of Polar Bear Hair, Skin Color: Adaptations to the Arctic
Award ID2430728
AwardeeStanford University
CitySTANFORD
StateCA
Amount obligated$415,224
Principal investigatorGreg Barsh
ProgramEvolutionary Processes
Start date05/01/2025
AbstractPolar bears have numerous traits that not only give them their iconic appearance but are also adaptations to living in the Arctic environment. These include their large body size with thick fat layer, streamlined head to help dive after prey, and most-noticeable their white fur. While other species of bears live in tropical or temperate environments, polar bears adapted to the extreme low temperatures of the Arctic with novel ways to absorb solar radiation or retain internal body heat. Three of
SourceNSF Awards

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