Bats Originated in Europe 65 Million Years Ago
A new genomic study challenges previous assumptions, revealing that bats originated in Europe and not Asia, Africa, or the Americas, with flight and echolocation present from the start
A groundbreaking genomic study has revealed that bats originated in Europe 65 million years ago, contradicting the long-held assumption that they emerged in Asia, Africa, or the Americas. The research, published in the journal Nature, analyzed the genomes of 103 species and 44 fossils, providing unprecedented insights into the evolution of these flying mammals.
The study was conducted by an international consortium called Bat1K, which included researchers from the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) and the University of Granada. The team's findings suggest that the first descendants of the European bat population dispersed into Africa, forming a Euro-African core from which bats later spread to Asia, the Americas, and Australia.
One of the most significant discoveries of the study is that flight and echolocation were present from the very beginning of bat evolution. The fossil of the genus Vielasia is regarded as an ancestor of modern bats and reinforces this conclusion. This challenges previous theories that suggested these traits evolved later in the history of bats.
The study's methodology, which combined genome sequencing with fossil analysis, has been hailed as a major breakthrough. According to the researchers, this approach has enabled them to reconstruct the genome of a flying mammal for the first time, providing a solid framework for investigating the genes responsible for the distinctive traits of bats.
## Why it matters The discovery of bats' European origins has significant implications for our understanding of the evolution of mammals. The study's findings also have potential applications in fields such as ageing, immunity, and disease resistance in humans. By understanding the genetic mechanisms that enable bats to fly and navigate using echolocation, scientists may be able to develop new insights into human health and disease.
The research has been welcomed as a major advance in the field of genomics and evolutionary biology. As the most comprehensive study of its kind to date, it provides a new framework for understanding the evolution and diversity of bats, and has the potential to inspire new areas of research and discovery.
