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At first this might sound inappropriate, but the researchers have recently found certain genetic similarities between the dolphins and bats. 

Convergent evolution is when different species evolve similar traits. This occurs at both the physical and genetic level. 

Echolocation is a complex physical trait comprising production, response and auditory processing of ultrasonic pulses. This is used by bats and other aquatic beings for detecting hidden obstacles as well as tracking prey. The research suggested, it has evolved independently among different groups of bats and dolphins. This is also one of the most well known examples of the convergent evolution.

To identify the extent to which convergent evolution of a physical feature involved the same genes, researchers compared genomic sequences of 22 mammals. This included the genomes of bats and dolphins too. The vast number of genomic sequences made it one of the largest genome-wide surveys of its kind. Millions of letters of genetic code used a computer program ran on Queen Mary’s School of Physics and Astronomy’s GridPP High Throughput Cluster supercomputer.

The multiple genes that had been previously linked to hearing and deafness, were the ones which were consistent with involvement in echolocation between bats and bottle-nose dolphins.

“We had expected to find identical changes in maybe a dozen or so genes but to see nearly 200 is incredible,” lead researcher Dr Joe Parker explained in a press release. “We know natural selection is a potent driver of gene sequence evolution, but identifying so many examples where it produces nearly identical results in the genetic sequences of totally unrelated animals is astonishing," he added.

Dr. Georgia Tsagkogeorga who assembled the genome data in the research said that molecular signals of convergence were widespread. She says that latest findings add valuable insight into genome evolution. 

The research outcomes were published in this week’s edition of journal Nature.