A recent extensive study involving the analysis of genomes from all 21 modern bat families and comparison with numerous fossil bats has finally put an end to the debate on the origin of bats. The study, published in the journal Nature, suggests that the earliest bats likely evolved in Europe approximately 65 million years ago.
Previously, there was uncertainty among scientists regarding whether bats could have originated from Asia, Africa, or North America due to the scarcity of fossil evidence. Sonja Vernes, the senior author of the study and director of the Bat1K consortium, explained that bats have been able to disperse globally over millions of years due to their flying capabilities.
By sequencing genomes from 103 bat species, researchers were able to gain insights into the characteristics and genetic makeup of early bats. The analysis revealed that ancient bats had 26 chromosomes and emerged around 65 million years ago, following the extinction of dinosaurs.
Furthermore, the study indicated that echolocation developed early in bat evolution. A fossil bat named Vielasia, which lived 50 million years ago and displayed bone structures conducive to echolocation, was identified as part of the oldest branch in the bat family tree.
With over 1,500 bat species globally, constituting about a fifth of all mammal species, the study successfully unveiled the intricate relationships among the 21 bat families.
The public availability of the study’s data has sparked excitement among researchers like Sonja Vernes, who anticipate leveraging bat genomes to advance human health research. Bats’ exceptional longevity and resistance to viral diseases have long intrigued scientists, with hopes that studying their genomes could unlock valuable insights for potential health treatments inspired by bats.
In addition to shedding light on bat evolution, the study’s collaborative effort involved 600 researchers worldwide, including Canadians like Burton Lim from the Royal Ontario Museum. Lim’s contributions, involving a diverse range of bat species from tropical regions, highlighted the importance of preserving genetic information using advanced techniques like liquid nitrogen storage.
Despite bats often facing misconceptions, Lim emphasized their crucial ecological roles, from pollination to insect control. The availability of extensive bat genome data is expected to catalyze further research into unique bat features such as echolocation, contributing to a deeper understanding of these fascinating mammals and their evolutionary history.