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HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (1): 25-33.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.2015.01.004

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advances on molecular mechanism of the adaptive evolution of Chiroptera (bats)

Yunpeng Liang1, Li Yu1, 2   

  1. 1. Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; 2. Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Diversity and Evolution of High Education in Yunnan Province, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
  • Received:2014-07-31 Revised:2014-10-20 Online:2015-01-20 Published:2015-01-20

Abstract: As the second biggest animal group in mammals, Chiroptera (bats) demonstrates many unique adaptive features in terms of flight, echolocation, auditory acuity, feeding habit, hibernation and immune defense, providing an excellent system for understanding the molecular basis of how organisms adapt to the living environments encountered. In this review, we summarize the researches on the molecular mechanism of the adaptive evolution of Chiroptera, especially the recent researches at the genome levels, suggesting a far more complex evolutionary pattern and functional diversity than previously thought. In the future, along with the increasing numbers of Chiroptera species genomes available, new evolutionary patterns and functional divergence will be revealed, which can promote the further understanding of this animal group and the molecular mechanism of adaptive evolution.

Key words: Chiroptera, adative evolution, molecule mechanism, flight, echolocation, feeding habit, hibernation, immune defense