Bats adapt outside of evolution


Epigenetics works outside of neo-Darwinism. Neo-Darwinism is the theory of evolution that states that evolution occurs through the gradual accumulation of random genetic mutations that are then selected for or against by natural selection. Epigenetic changes, on the other hand, are changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence.  Epigenetic changes can be inherited, but they are not passed down in the same way as neo darwinian mutations. Epigenetics plays a significant role in adaptation , and it provide a new way to understand how evolution works outside of NeoDarwinism.

"These environmentally induced epigenetic patterns may even be stably inherited by future generations which provides an additional pathway for environmental adaptation and produces a challenge to the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis (evolution)."  -Tinglei Jiang

The article "Natural epigenetic variation in bats and its role in evolution" by Tinglei Jiang et all investigates the extent and distribution of epigenetic variation in three bat species: the great roundleaf bat (Hipposideros armiger), the least horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus pusillus), and the eastern bent-winged bat (Miniopterus fuliginosus). 

The authors used a methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique to assess DNA methylation levels at 5'-CCGG-3' sites in the genomes of individuals from each species.

The results of the study showed that all three bat species have extensive DNA methylation polymorphisms (90.2%). This means that there is a great deal of variation in the way that DNA methylation is distributed across the genome, even within the same species. The authors also found that epigenetic variation is structured into distinct between- (29.8%) and within- (71.2%) population components. This suggests that environmental factors contribute to epigenetic variation in bats.

The authors also found that epigenetic variation is not entirely determined by genetics, as there is still a significant amount of within-population variation. This suggests that environmental factors also play a role in shaping epigenetic variation in bats.

The authors discuss the implications of their findings for the evolution of bats. They suggest that epigenetic variation is a mechanism that allows bats to adapt to different environmental conditions. For example, epigenetic variation could allow bats to adjust their metabolism or immune system in response to changes in climate or diet. The authors also suggest that epigenetic variation may play a role in speciation, as it could allow populations of bats to diverge from each other even if their genetic makeup remains relatively similar.

The study provides important insights into the role of epigenetic variation in the evolution of bats. The findings of this study suggest that epigenetic variation is widespread in bats and that it is influenced by environmental factors. This suggests that epigenetic variation is an important mechanism that allows bats to adapt to their environment.

In addition to the implications for the evolution of bats, the findings of this study also have broader implications for our understanding of epigenetics and adaptation. The study shows that epigenetic variation is not limited to a few specific genes or tissues as with NeoDarwinism , but is widespread throughout the genome. This suggests that epigenetic variation plays a more general role in regulating gene expression and organismal development. The study also shows that epigenetic variation can be inherited from parents to offspring, which suggests that it may be a mechanism for transmitting adaptive traits to future generations.

The study is an important contribution to our understanding of epigenetics and adaptation. The findings of this study suggest that epigenetic variation is a widespread and important phenomenon that may play a role in a variety of biological processes including adaptation.

Here are some additional thoughts on the implications of this study:

  • Epigenetic variation is a way for bats to adapt to rapid environmental changes, such as climate change.

  • Epigenetic variation contributes to the evolution of new bat species.

  • Epigenetic variation could be a target for conservation efforts, as it could help bats to adapt to new environments.

Further research is needed to explore the full implications of epigenetic variation in bats and other organisms. However, this study provides a valuable starting point for this research.

Article Snippets

Natural epigenetic variation in bats and its role in evolution

When facing the challenges of environmental change, such as habitat fragmentation, organisms have to adjust their phenotype to adapt to various environmental stresses.

Recent studies show that epigenetic modifications mediate environmentally induced phenotypic variation, and this epigenetic variance could be inherited by future generations, indicating that epigenetic processes have potential evolutionary effects

Bats living in diverse environments show geographic variations in phenotype,

We have also estimated the effects of genetic variance and ecological variables on epigenetic diversification. All three bat species have a low level of genomic DNA methylation and extensive epigenetic diversity that exceeds the corresponding genetic variance.

When facing challenges from environmental changes or stresses, organisms have to adapt to the changed environment by genetic mechanisms, physiological adaptability, phenotypic plasticity or moving to a new, more suitable area

The genetic changes may support abundant phenotypic variation in organisms for environmental adaptation, but they occur slowly and cannot keep pace with the rapidly changing environment

Recent studies have suggested that epigenetic modifications in eukaryotes could affect genetic expression and thus may mediate phenotypical variation in response to rapid and unpredictable environmental changes without genetic divergence

These environmentally induced epigenetic patterns may even be stably inherited by future generations which provides an additional pathway for environmental adaptation and produces a challenge to the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis

epigenetic process is another source of random variation in natural populations in addition to genetic variance

Differences in diet determine whether honeybee larvae develop into either sterile workers or reproductive queens by altering their genomic DNA methylation

bats may present an opportunity to explore the evolutionary potential of epigenetic variance in environmental adaptation

Nine populations of H. armiger comprising 45 females, nine populations of R. pusillus comprising 39 females and eight populations of M. fuliginosus comprising 47 females in total were selected to explore the natural epigenetic characteristics in bats

All three bat species investigated exhibit high levels of epigenetic polymorphisms

Greater individual epigenotypic variation contributes to the extensive methylation diversity within a population, which could support the ‘raw material’ for adaptive evolution

Epigenetic diversity of a similar extent to that found in these three bat species has been reported in plants

indicating that extensive intraspecific epigenetic variation and epigenetic structuring may be widespread in wild populations.

Greater epigenetic diversity may have evolutionary potential for wild populations

genome-wide methylation variation may compensate for the decreased genetic variation

The relationship between epigenetic and genetic diversity is a key aspect in epigenetic research because it determines the degree of phenotypic variation that can be explained by epigenetic effects alone or the significance of meiotic transmission of epigenetic variance

the large variation in DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana plants is not correlated with their genetic divergence

the significant relationship suggests that most of the methylation variation among bat populations may belong to the obligatory or facilitated epigenetic variation type, which indicates that correlated genetic–epigenetic variation may be a possible pathway for the evolution of bat populations

The extensive DNA methylation polymorphisms and diversity in bat populations significantly exceed the corresponding differences in genetic profiles

suggesting that at least a part of methylation variation is independent of genetic divergence or can be identified as pure epigenetic variation.

populations living in diverse environments exhibit extensive variation in genome-wide DNA methylation.

Ecological factors covarying across geographical locations may have a greater impact on DNA methylation of bats

environment-induced methylation patterns in bats may be reversible when the normal environment is restored.

Heritable epigenetic marks pose a serious challenge to the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis, which assumes that DNA sequence variance is the only heritable variation in natural populations

Genetic changes could not provide an effective phenotype for bats to adapt to environmental changes rapidly, and it is therefore necessary to consider another explanation.

Epigenetic cues, such as DNA methylation, could mediate phenotypic variation in response to environmental changes without genetic divergence, and may provide insight into the mechanisms of environmental adaptation of bat populations.

Their greater epigenetic polymorphisms and significant epigenetic structures exhibit extensive methylation diversity within and among populations and individuals, as also found in plants, indicating that the extensive individual epigenotypic variations may be evolutionarily significant to wild populations.

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