Wild Bats Offer New Insight Into Human Epigenetics

Researchers at the University of Maryland and UCLA have demonstrated that the examination of age-related biomarkers in tissue can accurately determine the age of wild animals. The scientists used tissue samples from over 26 species of bat and were able to use previously demonstrated epigenetic tests to successfully determine the biological age of each animal. 

While the utility of animal epigenetic testing may not seem apparent, it has several benefits for researchers. Evaluating animal age-related biomarkers allows scientists to directly study the effects of specific epigenetic profiles. In the above study, researchers were able to compare the epigenetic profiles of different bat species. Some species are long-lived, while others are short-lived, and epigenetic profiling allows researchers to get a glimpse of the genetic factors that produce differing longevity across species. 

The researchers observed changes in DNA methylation across the bat species. DNA methylation is a well-understood epigenetic clock, and tests using this method are some of the most common.  Using machine learning models, the team could assess genomic data and extract patterns that would have previously gone unnoticed. Because of the complexity of cellular epigenetics, it is likely that machine learning and artificial intelligence will be necessary to identify complex epigenetic patterns that speed up aging. 

The study indicated that long-lived species of bats exhibited fewer changes in methylation as their age progressed compared to short-lived species. Changes in methylation mean that previously inactive genes, such as genes that produce cancer, can become inadvertently activated. Similarly, protective genes, like those coding for immune functions, can become disabled. 

Epigenetic testing of animals will undoubtedly increase in the coming years. Many species provide functional analogs for human conditions, such as cancer. By examining the epigenetic clocks across species and comparing the biological age of the animal to its specific epigenetic profile, scientists can create valuable links between specific genotypes and age-related disorders in humans.