Bats are the mammals that most people try to avoid because of the diseases they carry. However, experts employ people not to fear them as much because they eat the night insects like mosquitoes which carry diseases and they have a strong immune system. Due to the fact that bats carry many diseases like SARS, Ebola, Rabies, etc. and are immune to these diseases, they are a valuable species to scientists. Interestingly enough, bats have a collection of genes that can repair DNA damaged from flight. Because flying induces a great deal of stress on it's body, these genes are believed to help the bats continue to have the ability to fly. Without these genes the DNA would be "mutilated". Scientists also believe that these repairing genes cause the bats' amazing immunity to diseases.
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However, according to an article in the
NY Times. bats are dying from a fungus that attacks them during hibernation. White-nose syndrome has killed several million bats and poses as a serious threat. White fuzz forms on the bats' face and wings, then effectively sends the bats amazing immune system on a downward spiral and inevitably kills them.
I believe that bats can help scientists find cures for various diseases and conditions that threaten us as humans. These genes they hold for
repairing DNA can be used to help us cure cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. However, white-nose syndrome poses a serious threat to the bats as well as the possibility of us advancing medicine with their genes. Hopefully, we can lower the deaths of bats caused by this fungus.
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