Bats' Unique Genetic Quirk Offers Clues to Evolution and Disease
Researchers discovered that bats absorb foreign DNA from other species far more frequently than other mammals, with over 200 cases identified. This genetic phenomenon may have accelerated bat evolution and could inform strategies for controlling disease transmission in wildlife and understanding how viruses jump between species.
Originaltitel: Chiropterans Are a Hotspot for Horizontal Transfer of DNA Transposons in Mammalia
<p>Horizontal transfer of transposable elements (TEs) is an important mechanism contributing to genetic diversity and innovation. Bats (order Chiroptera) have repeatedly been shown to experience horizontal transfer of TEs at what appears to be a high rate compared with other mammals. We investigated the occurrence of horizontally transferred (HT) DNA transposons involving bats. We found over 200 putative HT elements within bats; 16 transposons were shared across distantly related mammalian clades, and 2 other elements were shared with a fish and two lizard species. Our results indicate that bats are a hotspot for horizontal transfer of DNA transposons. These events broadly coincide with the diversification of several bat clades, supporting the hypothesis that DNA transposon invasions have contributed to genetic diversification of bats.</p>