Paul Kingston
BIOL1615
Article Outline
Genome Analysis reveals insights into physiology and longevity of the Brandt’s bat
Nature communications Article. Published 20 Aug 2013
I chose this article because it goes into genetics and longevity. Both are very current
topics that are being studied more now than ever in our day in age. People are always looking
for that fountain of youth wherever it may be found. Brandt’s Bats account for approximately
twenty percent of mammalian species. The Brandt’s bat is the longest living bat with a life span
of up to 40 years and it weighs in at 4-8 grams. In this paper the bats genome has been
sequenced through the transcriptome, which suggests adaptations consistent with
echolocation and hibernation, also altered metabolism, reproduction and visual function. Some
unique sequence changes observed are growth hormones and insulin-like growth factor 1
receptors are also included. The data in this article suggests that an altered growth hormone
which may be common to other long-lived bat species together with adaptations such as
hibernation and low reproductive rate, contribute to the exceptional lifespan of the Brandt’s
bat.
The bat genome was sequenced used the shotgun technique also the transcriptomes of the
liver kidney and brain was sequenced. A theory from before this suggested that birds and bats
have smaller genomes than other vertebrates because of metabolic constraints on cell size and
genome size. Nucleotide diversity was estimated at 0.4% higher than in another long-lived
mammal, the naked mole rat. Transposon repeats accounted for 22% of the genome, which is
lower than in related mammals and may contribute to the small size of the genome. There are
Paul Kingston
BIOL1615
Article Outline
22,256 protein coding genes of which 21,219 genes were transcribed and 20,744 genes could
be functionally annotated. The Genome evolution is said to be a sister taxon of the horse the
estimated divergence date is said to be 81.7 million years ago. Both the bats and e. caballus
(horses) are long lived species. Compared to the common ancestors of bats and horses. The
Brandt’s bat has 67 significantly expanded and 44 significantly contracted gene families.
Echolocation there were four proteins identified with unique amino acid changes that are
common to the echo locating mammals the Brandt’s bat and the bottlenose dolphin. Two of
these genes are expressed in the inner ear. Melanin is expressed abundantly in the inner ear
and is highly sound absorbing and may help protect the cochlea from aging related hearing loss
and sound stress.
The methods used for animal sampling was a male bat collected at a hibernation roost in the
Perm Krai, Russia in December 2011. The animal was killed on-site and tissues were preserved
in liquid nitrogen.
The Brandt’s bat possesses features attributed to increased longevity of bats it
hibernates has a low reproductive rate and roosts in caves. This animal’s exhibits long
reproductive cycle’s long time to maturity and long lifespan. It only produces one pup which
only accounts for 10% of the adult’s body mass. Genome and transciptone analysis of a
mammal with most exceptional lifespan provide clues to its evolution and several unique traits.
(Communications, 2013)