Everyone knows dolphins are very smart. Scientists found that octopuses also have "remarkable" intelligence. Marine biologists said octopi have an intelligence gene similar to the one in humans. The creatures have short sequences of DNA called "jumping genes". These make up 45 per cent of the human genome. They help to create and store memories in the brain. They may give octopuses cognitive abilities like those humans have.
The research tells us how octopuses change their behaviour in response to different stimuli. This process is called "behavioural plasticity". The research could help us understand more about human intelligence. A researcher said the octopus brain has characteristics found in mammal brains. He said octopus brains could help us to know more about the "evolution of intelligence". Octopuses may be more similar to mammals than invertebrates.
Try the same news story at these levels:
Octopus DNA - Level 5 or Octopus DNA - Level 6
Sources- https://www.livescience.com/jumping-genes-octopus-intelligence
- https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/51619/20220629/octopus-human-brain.htm
- https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/956980
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