News
October 08, 2025
By reusing old genes, bats became the only mammals able to fly
Scientists have long wondered how bats keep a sheet of skin between their fingers. In other mammals, this sheet disappears before birth in a process where the cells die on purpose, called apoptosis. One leading hypothesis is that bats evolved flight by suppressing this interdigital cell death
**Bats' Flight Secret: Ancient Genes Prevent Webbing Loss**
For centuries, the unique ability of bats to soar through the skies has fascinated scientists and nature enthusiasts alike. Now, a groundbreaking study sheds light on how these winged mammals evolved their remarkable flight capabilities, revealing a fascinating trick involving the reuse of old genes. The secret lies in the unusual way bats develop their wings, specifically in how they maintain the sheet of skin stretched between their elongated fingers.
Unlike most other mammals, bats retain the webbing between their digits throughout their lives. In other mammals, including humans, this interdigital tissue disappears during embryonic development through a process called apoptosis, a programmed cell death essential for shaping limbs. Scientists have long suspected that the evolution of flight in bats hinged on suppressing this natural cell death process.
The prevailing hypothesis suggests that bats repurposed ancient genes, essentially turning off the signal that triggers apoptosis in the interdigital region. This allows the tissue to persist, forming the flexible membrane that constitutes their wings. Instead of developing separate fingers like other mammals, the bat's fingers remain connected by this specialized skin, providing the necessary surface area for flight.
While the specific genes involved in this process are still under investigation, researchers believe that the key lies in understanding how bats regulate the signals that control cell survival and death during development. By preventing apoptosis in the interdigital tissue, bats effectively maintain the webbing that is crucial for generating lift and maneuvering in the air.
This discovery not only deepens our understanding of bat evolution but also offers valuable insights into the intricate processes that govern limb development in all mammals. Further research into the genetic mechanisms behind this phenomenon could potentially have implications for understanding and addressing limb abnormalities in humans and other species. The bat's unique adaptation serves as a compelling example of how evolution can repurpose existing genetic pathways to create novel and extraordinary features.
For centuries, the unique ability of bats to soar through the skies has fascinated scientists and nature enthusiasts alike. Now, a groundbreaking study sheds light on how these winged mammals evolved their remarkable flight capabilities, revealing a fascinating trick involving the reuse of old genes. The secret lies in the unusual way bats develop their wings, specifically in how they maintain the sheet of skin stretched between their elongated fingers.
Unlike most other mammals, bats retain the webbing between their digits throughout their lives. In other mammals, including humans, this interdigital tissue disappears during embryonic development through a process called apoptosis, a programmed cell death essential for shaping limbs. Scientists have long suspected that the evolution of flight in bats hinged on suppressing this natural cell death process.
The prevailing hypothesis suggests that bats repurposed ancient genes, essentially turning off the signal that triggers apoptosis in the interdigital region. This allows the tissue to persist, forming the flexible membrane that constitutes their wings. Instead of developing separate fingers like other mammals, the bat's fingers remain connected by this specialized skin, providing the necessary surface area for flight.
While the specific genes involved in this process are still under investigation, researchers believe that the key lies in understanding how bats regulate the signals that control cell survival and death during development. By preventing apoptosis in the interdigital tissue, bats effectively maintain the webbing that is crucial for generating lift and maneuvering in the air.
This discovery not only deepens our understanding of bat evolution but also offers valuable insights into the intricate processes that govern limb development in all mammals. Further research into the genetic mechanisms behind this phenomenon could potentially have implications for understanding and addressing limb abnormalities in humans and other species. The bat's unique adaptation serves as a compelling example of how evolution can repurpose existing genetic pathways to create novel and extraordinary features.
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Technology