Octopuses have been shown to be able to solve complex tasks and several have managed to escape from aquariums. They are intelligent animals that have lived in the sea for 500 million years. Still, scientists have been left scratching their heads as to why the strange creature has so many skills. After all, octopuses usually only live for three to five years. Now science may have come a little further along. Researcher Bastian Fromm at UiT in Tromsø and colleagues in a number of countries have researched molecules known as microRNA in common squid. The study is published in Science Advances, which belongs to the renowned journal Science. Surprising findings When Fromm and the other researchers began to analyze the data from the octopuses, they first thought that there must be something wrong with the equipment. – These animals had more microRNAs than birds, says Fromm. He says the findings explain how octopuses can be more intelligent than most animals, including birds, which also have varying degrees of intelligence. In fact, the researchers behind the study believe that the findings may have implications for how animals develop intelligence in general. Bastian Fromm, research group leader at UiT. Photo: UiT – It seems that the amount of microRNA animals have in their brains determines how complex their behavior and intelligence is. And the squid has large amounts of microRNA. – This is incredible, because we know that intelligence has only developed independently twice throughout evolution, and both times it appears to be driven by microRNA, says Fromm. In fact, the data shows that squids have the most microRNAs, beaten only by us humans. Octopuses undeniably have a rather strange appearance. This picture shows a ten-armed octopus. Photo: Nils Aukan / Potential for cancer treatment In the future, microRNA science may also play a role in cancer research. MicroRNAs help to activate genes, a bit like a light switch. Fromm explains that if you could control this mechanism, you could perhaps turn on and off various genes that control disease. – For example, cancer or cardiovascular diseases. Previous research on the molecules has indeed shown a connection with cancer in particular. – It also has to do with microRNA. In cancer, the cancer cells lose microRNA. Perhaps because microRNAs are regulators, says Fromm. Predicted WC winner Octopuses fascinate many with their tentacles and alien appearance, and over the centuries have been the subject of legends and myths. One of the most famous octopuses was Paul, who acted as an oracle during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, predicting the winner of a number of matches, including the final between the Netherlands and Spain. After Paul died later that year, his successors came Paul II and Regina. Paul the octopus predicted who would win the final of the football World Cup in 2010. Amazingly, the octopus was able to predict the winner in all eight World Cup matches that it “predicted”. The Netflix documentary “My Octopus Teacher” from 2020 also made many people fascinated by the inner life of octopuses. The film is about a South African freediver who establishes a friendship with an octopus. The film won the Oscar for best documentary in 2021. The strange octopus The name comes from the fact that it has a sac of black pigment inside its body that it can empty into its surroundings to confuse other animals The blood is blue because it transports oxygen to the organs with hemocyanin which has copper, and not iron as in the hemoglobin we use It has three hearts. One main heart and two smaller auxiliary hearts The octopus can imitate other animals and objects in nature with the help of a complicated system that changes both the color and the structure of the skin. It uses its skin to send complex signals to other octopuses It is able to send one set of signals on one side of its body and another on the other side Each of its tentacles has its own bundle of nerves that acts as an auxiliary brain. A tentacle that is separated from the rest of the animal is still capable of purposeful movement The octopus can use tools. It is known to use rocks to break glass in aquariums it wants out of The octopus can use its tentacles to manipulate objects as well as the human hand. It has no problem getting out of a glass with a screw cap. It can compress its body so that it can get through very small holes and cracks. Can make nerve cells Many scientists believe that microRNAs are the molecules responsible for making new and specialized cells, especially nerve cells. – MicroRNA can regulate which genes are in a cell, and it is believed to be important for generating intelligence, says Fromm. This photo from 2008 is supposed to show what was at the time the world’s largest squid observed. Photo: NEW ZEALAND HERALD / REUTERS – It’s a bit like Lego. If you have ten different Legos, you might be able to build a tiny house, but you can’t build a Ferrari or a palace. Then you need many different pieces. More MicroRNA means that you have more of these pieces. RNA are small molecules in the cell that have important tasks in the production of proteins and contribute to which genes are switched on and off. RNA is similar to the genetic material DNA and is found in all cells of all organisms.
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Squid are intelligent and smart, shows research on microRNA at UiT published in Science – news Troms and Finnmark
