A recent extensive study of genomes from all 21 modern bat families and comparison with numerous fossil bats has led scientists to conclude that the earliest bats likely originated in Europe approximately 65 million years ago. This new finding, published in the journal Nature, resolves previous debates on whether bats could have also originated from Asia, Africa, or North America, as fossil evidence was limited.
The study, led by Sonja Vernes, director of the Bat1K consortium, analyzed the genomes of 103 bat species, examined their traits and genes, and utilized advanced computational methods to unveil insights into the characteristics of early bats. The research revealed that ancient bats had 26 chromosomes and evolved after the extinction of dinosaurs, around the same time that many mammals started to diversify.
Echolocation, a key feature of bats, was identified as an early development in their evolution. The analysis highlighted that the fossil bat Vielasia, which lived 50 million years ago and exhibited anatomical features conducive to echolocation, belonged to the oldest branch in the bat family tree. Presently, there are approximately 1,500 bat species globally, comprising about a fifth of all mammal species, with the study providing a detailed understanding of the interrelationships among the 21 bat families.
The study’s data, now accessible worldwide, presents opportunities for exploring the exceptional longevity and viral resistance observed in bats, which could have implications for human health. Researchers speculate that studying bat genomes might offer insights into developing healthcare treatments inspired by bat adaptations.
Sonja Vernes expressed her fascination with bats, emphasizing their unique communication patterns and the importance of understanding their genomics. The collaborative effort involved 600 researchers worldwide, with Burton Lim from the Royal Ontario Museum contributing significantly to the study by supplying samples for genome testing, particularly from tropical regions.
While bats are often misunderstood, they play crucial ecological roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. The availability of extensive bat genome data is expected to catalyze further research into the genetic mechanisms underlying distinctive bat traits, such as echolocation. This study’s comprehensive dataset could serve as a foundation for future investigations into the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of bats, echoing similar genome projects in other species like primates.