According to study published in Genome Biology and Evolution by Oxford University Press, fast evolution in bats may explain their unique capacity to host illnesses, prevent cancer, and have powerful immune systems.

Bats, which are famed for their long lifespans and low cancer rates, have piqued the interest of scientists owing to the possible implications for human health. Understanding the immunological processes of bats might help avoid disease transfer from animals to people. A genetic comparison of bats and cancer-prone species might give information on cancer origins and immune links.

Researchers sequenced bat genomes using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies technology, discovering genetic adaptations in DNA repair and cancer-related proteins that were considerably enriched in bats compared to other species.

“By generating these new bat genomes and comparing them to other mammals we continue to find extraordinary new adaptations in antiviral and anticancer genes,” said the paper’s lead author, Armin Scheben.

“These investigations are the first step towards translating research on the unique biology of bats into insights relevant to understanding and treating ageing and diseases, such as cancer, in humans.”