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We Finally Know Where Bats Came From-and Dracula Would Approve
Gizmodo • • science
Key Points:
- A large international team of researchers has identified Europe as the likely geographical origin of the first true bats, dating back roughly 65 million years, shortly after the dinosaur extinction event.
- The study combined genomic sequencing of 103 bat species from all 21 families with analysis of 44 fossil bats, reconstructing 26 ancestral bat chromosomes in the largest combined genome and fossil study of bats to date.
- Findings indicate that key traits of modern bats, including powered flight and echolocation, were present in the earliest known bat lineage, Eochiroptera.
- The Bat1k project aims to sequence the genomes of all living bat species to better understand their unique biological traits, but progress depends on securing substantial funding amid challenging research funding environments.
- Researchers emphasize the importance of this work for bat conservation, as about 80% of bat species face threats or declining populations, and the growing genomic database may illuminate bats' longevity, immune responses, and dietary specializations.
