biostudies-literatureUnknownTintori SCNIEHS NIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHSNIH HHSThe 1986 disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant transformed the surrounding region into the most radioactive landscape known on the planet. Questions remain regarding whether this sudden environmental shift selected for species, or even individuals within a species, that are naturally more resistant to radiation exposure. We collected, cultured, and cryopreserved 298 wild nematodes isolates from areas varying in radioactivity within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. We sequenced and assembled genomes <i>de novo</i> for 20 <i>Oschieus tipulae</i> strains, analyzed their genomes for evidence of recent mutation acquisition in the field and saw no evidence of an association between mutation and radiation level at the sites of collection. Multigenerational exposure of each of these strains to several mutagens in the lab revealed that strains vary heritably in tolerance to each mutagen, but mutagen tolerance cannot be predicted based on the radiation levels at collection sites.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2023.05.28.542665https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10312484biostudies-literatureEnvironmental radiation exposure at Chornobyl has not systematically affected the genomes or mutagen tolerance phenotypes of local worms.PMC10312484R21 ES031364R01 ES029930P40 OD010440R35 GM141906Mousseau TACaglar DTintori SCOrtiz PChyzhevskyi IRockman MVfalseEnvironmental radiation exposure at Chornobyl has not systematically affected the genomes or mutagen tolerance phenotypes of local worms.The 1986 disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant transformed the surrounding region into the most radioactive landscape known on the planet. Questions remain regarding whether this sudden environmental shift selected for species, or even individuals within a species, that are naturally more resistant to radiation exposure. We collected, cultured, and cryopreserved 298 wild nematodes isolates from areas varying in radioactivity within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. We sequenced and assembled genomes <i>de novo</i> for 20 <i>Oschieus tipulae</i> strains, analyzed their genomes for evidence of recent mutation acquisition in the field and saw no evidence of an association between mutation and radiation level at the sites of collection. Multigenerational exposure of each of these strains to several mutagens in the lab revealed that strains vary heritably in tolerance to each mutagen, but mutagen tolerance cannot be predicted based on the radiation levels at collection sites.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 May2024-11-07T12:03:06.456Z2024-11-07T12:03:06.456ZS-EPMC103124843739803210.1101/2023.05.28.542665