The octopus has always been a very … new subject to science. They are considered bizarre creatures because of their abilities. Compared to many intelligent species, they are much more capable of transcendence.
The octopus, whether for the general public or the scientific world, has always been a … weird creature. They have eight tentacles, each with its own brain with the ability to push back comfortably when broken. They have a blue lineage (due to the abundance of copper in them). They also have 4 hearts, and have an intelligence sometimes superior to many species such as dolphins, chimpanzees …
But the octopus monstrosity hasn’t stopped yet. Scientists have discovered that even during evolution, octopuses are among the most unique of all organisms on this planet.
Specifically, in a study conducted in 2017, scientists confirmed that octopus and several other species of squid have the ability to evolve very differently. As a result, they often self-regulate RNA chains in humans in response to changes in the external environment.
This is extremely strange, as it usually does not happen with multicellular organisms. Because when an organism changes, it usually all starts with a genetic mutation – that is, a change in the DNA sequence, not the RNA.
Changes in DNA are made by RNA. You can imagine that DNA is like a recipe, and that RNA is the cook who “cooks” them and puts them in place at the table, through the production of the corresponding proteins.
However, RNA does not simply follow the instructions of DNA. They change depending on each material provided by DNA, deciding which cell produces which protein. This very rare process is known as “RNA modification”.
During editing, RNA changes how proteins work, allowing the body to refine genetic information without causing genetic mutations. However, most living things do not evolve in this way, because it presents a great risk. And the creatures that make the difference are the octopus and the squid.
In 2015, researchers discovered that certain species of common squid can alter around 60% of RNA sequences in their nervous system. These changes alter brain activity in response to changes in ocean temperature.
In 2017, they achieved something special, seeing at least 2 species of octopus and 1 species of squid regularly correcting their RNA. Compared to some other mollusks, octopus has more advanced editing ability.
“This shows that this is an advanced edition of RNA, and not something common in molluscs. It is like the privilege of some species”, – said Joshua Rosenthal, co-author of the study. help.
Experts analyzed hundreds of thousands of recorded RNA data and found that this editing ability is particularly important in the nervous system of species of the coleoid subclass (octopus, cuttlefish, squid, etc.).
Octopus shows the ability to open bottles when locked
“I wonder if this has anything to do with their invaded brain,” said Kazuko Nishikura, a genetic modification specialist at the Wistar Institute (USA).
As noted, the scientific community recognizes that species in the coleoid subclass have a very special developmental spirit. Many times the octopus surprised us with its ability to solve puzzles, run away or know how to use tools. And according to the experts, the hypothesis here is that the ability to edit RNA has allowed them to continuously develop their brains.
However, with that ability comes a tradeoff as well. Coleoid species evolve very slowly compared to most other organisms. It’s a sacrifice deemed necessary: when you find the right survival mechanism, keep using it.
“To maintain the ability to modify RNA, coleoid species must relinquish the ability to evolve,” Rosenthal said.
