Word Pairs

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Words
It is [common / commonly] knowledge that sea creatures like dolphins have a high level of intelligence. Scientists have now discovered that octopuses also have "[remarked / remarkable] " intelligence. A team of Italian marine biologists have [revealed / revealing] that octopi [has / have] a gene that also determines the intelligence [on / of] humans. The eight-tentacled [sea / seas] creature has short sequences of DNA called "jumping genes". These same genes make [down / up] 45 per cent of the human genome. The researchers said the DNA sequences are important [for / of] learning and for creating and storing memories [in / on] the brain. The scientists say the DNA may give octopuses cognitive abilities that are [similar / similarity] to those humans have.

The scientists say their research findings are important as they give an [sighting / insight] into how octopuses [armed / amend] their behaviour in response to different [stimulus / stimuli] . Scientists describe this [process / progress] as "behavioural plasticity". Biologist Graziano Fiorito suggested that the research could help us understand more about intelligence [at / in] humans. He said: "The brain of the octopus is functionally [religious / analogous] in many of its characteristics to that of [mammal / mammals] . For this reason the DNA represents a very [interesting / interested] candidate to study to improve our knowledge [in / on] the evolution of intelligence." He says the brain structure of octopuses may mean the creatures are more similar to mammals than invertebrates and [other / others] sea life.

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