Chiropterans Are a Hotspot for Horizontal Transfer of DNA Transposons in Mammalia
Authors: Paulat Nicole S , Storer Jessica M , Moreno-Santillán Diana D , Osmanski Austin B , Sullivan Kevin A M , Grimshaw Jenna R , Korstian Jennifer , Halsey Michaela , Garcia Carlos J , Crookshanks Claudia , Roberts Jaquelyn , Smit Arian F A , Hubley Robert , Rosen Jeb , Teeling Emma C , Vernes Sonja C , Myers Eugene , Pippel Martin , Brown Thomas , Hiller Michael ,   Zoonomia Consortium, Andrews Gregory , Armstrong Joel C , Bianchi Matteo , Birren Bruce W , Bredemeyer Kevin R , Breit Ana M , Christmas Matthew J , Clawson Hiram , Damas Joana , Di Palma Federica , Diekhans Mark , Dong Michael X , Eizirik Eduardo , Fan Kaili , Fanter Cornelia , Foley Nicole M , Forsberg-Nilsson Karin , Garcia Carlos J , Gatesy John , Gazal Steven , Genereux Diane P , Goodman Linda , Grimshaw Jenna , Halsey Michaela K , Harris Andrew J , Hickey Glenn , Hiller Michael , Hindle Allyson G , Hubley Robert M , Hughes Graham M , Johnson Jeremy , Juan David , Kaplow Irene M , Karlsson Elinor K , Keough Kathleen C , Kirilenko Bogdan , Koepfli Klaus-Peter , Korstian Jennifer M , Kowalczyk Amanda , Kozyrev Sergey V , Lawler Alyssa J , Lawless Colleen , Lehmann Thomas , Levesque Danielle L , Lewin Harris A , Li Xue , Lind Abigail , Lindblad-Toh Kerstin , Mackay-Smith Ava , Marinescu Voichita D , Marques-Bonet Tomas , Mason Victor C , Meadows Jennifer R S , Meyer Wynn K , Moore Jill E , Moreira Lucas R , Moreno-Santillan Diana D , Morrill Kathleen M , Muntané Gerard , Murphy William J , Navarro Arcadi , Nweeia Martin , Ortmann Sylvia , Osmanski Austin , Paten Benedict , Paulat Nicole S , Pfenning Andreas R , Phan BaDoi N , Pollard Katherine S , Pratt Henry E , Ray David A , Reilly Steven K , Rosen Jeb R , Ruf Irina , Ryan Louise , Ryder Oliver A , Sabeti Pardis C , Schäffer Daniel E , Serres Aitor , Shapiro Beth , Smit Arian F A , Springer Mark , Srinivasan Chaitanya , Steiner Cynthia , Storer Jessica M , Sullivan Kevin A M , Sullivan Patrick F , Sundström Elisabeth , Supple Megan A , Swofford Ross , Talbot Joy-El , Teeling Emma , Turner-Maier Jason , Valenzuela Alejandro , Wagner Franziska , Wallerman Ola , Wang Chao , Wang Juehan , Weng Zhiping , Wilder Aryn P , Wirthlin Morgan E , Xue James R , Zhang Xiaomeng , Rojas Danny , Dávalos Liliana M , Lindblad-Toh Kerstin , Karlsson Elinor K , Ray David A 
Published: April 2023

Horizontal transfer of transposable elements (TEs) is an important mechanism contributing to genetic diversity and innovation. Bats (order Chiroptera) have repeatedly been shown to experience horizontal transfer of TEs at what appears to be a high rate compared with other mammals. We investigated the occurrence of horizontally transferred (HT) DNA transposons involving bats. We found over 200 putative HT elements within bats; 16 transposons were shared across distantly related mammalian clades, and 2 other elements were shared with a fish and two lizard species. Our results indicate that bats are a hotspot for horizontal transfer of DNA transposons. These events broadly coincide with the diversification of several bat clades, supporting the hypothesis that DNA transposon invasions have contributed to genetic diversification of bats.