Unraveling Human-Octopus Intelligence: An Ancient Link

-

Article by: Arya Bandyopadhyay
Dated: 27th April, 2025

This deep evolutionary connection provides new insight into why octopuses, despite being invertebrates, display advanced and sophisticated behaviors typically associated with vertebrates.


Built by evolution. Split by fate. Connected by intelligence.
Credits: Visual fusion crafted with AI | Honoring the mind-bending legacy of cephalopods and humankind.

Ancient Evolutionary Link: New research suggests that octopuses and humans may share an ancient evolutionary connection, offering an explanation for the remarkable intelligence of cephalopods.

Common Ancestor: Both species could trace their cognitive complexity back to a common ancestor that lived around 518 million years ago.

The Role of MicroRNAs (miRNAs):
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory molecules that control how genes are expressed.
A study led by Nikolaus Rajewsky at the Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine revealed that octopuses and other soft-bodied cephalopods experienced a significant increase in their miRNA gene repertoire.

Impact on Brain Evolution:
This "massive expansion" of miRNA genes is thought to be a key driver in the development of the octopus’s advanced brain.
It allowed for the creation of more diverse types of neurons, contributing to their sophisticated cognitive abilities.

Convergent Evolution of Complex Brains:
The brains of octopuses and humans appear to have developed complexity in remarkably similar ways, despite following separate evolutionary paths.
This is an example of convergent evolution, where different organisms independently evolve similar traits.

Shared Biological Strategy:
The expansion of microRNAs in both octopuses and humans suggests that certain molecular mechanisms might be favored by nature when developing complex brains.

This points to a shared biological strategy for building intelligence across vastly different organisms.

(A) Schematic representation of tissues sampled in the study. Neuronal and non-neuronal tissues are 212 colored in blue and yellow, respectively. Inset (B): brain and surrounding structures. (C) Main 213 sequencing methods and computational analyses used in this study.

---

Evolutionary Insights

1. Ancient Shared Ancestry: Humans and octopuses may share a common ancestor from around 518 million years ago, explaining the remarkable intelligence of cephalopods.

2. Convergent Evolution: Despite separate evolutionary paths, the brains of octopuses and humans have evolved in strikingly similar ways, highlighting convergent evolution and shared molecular mechanisms in brain complexity.

---

MicroRNA Expansion in Cephalopods

3. MicroRNA (miRNA) Role: MiRNAs, small molecules that regulate gene expression, play a critical role in cephalopod brain development, driving cognitive complexity.

4. Study Findings: Research by Nikolaus Rajewsky showed that octopuses underwent a significant expansion of miRNA genes, particularly in neural tissues, supporting brain function and development.

5. Comparative Analysis: The miRNA expansion in cephalopods mirrors similar developments in vertebrates, revealing a shared evolutionary strategy for brain complexity.

---

Implications for Brain Complexity

6. Neural Diversity: The expansion of miRNA genes likely contributes to the creation of diverse neuron types, enhancing the octopus’s advanced cognitive abilities.

7. Independent Evolution: The similar brain development in cephalopods and vertebrates suggests that intelligence can evolve through parallel molecular mechanisms in different species.

---

Broader Implications

8. RNA-Based Mechanisms: The study emphasizes the importance of RNA-based regulatory mechanisms, such as miRNAs, in the evolution of complex traits like intelligence.

9. Future Research Directions: Further research is needed to explore the specific roles of miRNAs in brain development and their comparison across intelligent species.

Rethinking Animal Intelligence

This study challenges the way we’ve always viewed intelligence in animals. Octopuses have always amazed us with their problem-solving skills, adaptability, and curiosity — qualities that now make more sense thanks to the discoveries around their RNA.

By uncovering the role of microRNAs in the development of their brains, scientists are offering a fresh perspective on how intelligence can evolve in completely different creatures.

The similarities between how human and octopus brains develop suggest that intelligence can take on many forms, far beyond what we’ve ever imagined.

Comments

  1. Sophia27 April 2025 at 21:34

    Hey, remember? It's Sophia from LMG! Once I'd asked about your blog when you visited your school and I recognized you at some place in Kolkata only before I could approach you but anyway I just love your writeups! And your choice is also good. Love them.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please comment on this blog-

Popular posts from this blog

What would it be like if your neurons could regenerate?

-
Image
  What If Neurons Could Regenerate? Imagine a world where your brain could heal and renew itself like your skin or liver. How would that change your life? Would you still be the same person, or would you evolve into someone entirely different? Let’s dive into this mind-bending idea together. The top image shows fluorescently labeled cells in the spinal cord of a zebrafish recovering one week after an injury, and the bottom image shows recovery four weeks after an injury. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis describe the dramatic changes within nerve cells that make regeneration possible. Such findings could inspire the development of new therapies for spinal cord injuries in people. (Image: Mokalled lab) A New Era for Memory and Learning Think about the last time you struggled to remember something important. What if your brain had the ability to replace lost or damaged neurons? Learning could become faster and more efficient, making knowledge ret...
Read more

Your friends shape your microbiome — and so do their friends

-
Image
Analysis of nearly 2,000 people living in remote villages in Honduras reveals who’s spreading gut microorganisms to whom. Friends share more than just food when they dine together.Credit: Getty A shared meal, a kiss on the cheek: these social acts bring people together — and bring their microbiomes together, too. The more people interact, the more similar the make-up of their gut microorganisms is, even if individuals don’t live in the same household, a study1 shows. The study also found that a person’s microbiome is shaped not only by their social contacts but also by the social contacts’ connections. The work is one of several studies2 that raise the possibility that health conditions can be shaped by the transmission of the microbiome between individuals, not just by diet and other environmental factors that affect gut flora. In the quest to understand what shapes a person’s microbiome, social interactions are “definitely a piece of the puzzle that I think has been missing until rec...
Read more

Mind Meets Body: Unlocking Secrets of Brain-Body Communication for a Healthier You

-
Image
Mind Meets Body: Unlocking the Secrets of Brain–Body Communication By Arya Bandyopadhyay | Exploring the Mind–Body Code Your body and brain are in constant dialogue. Far from being a one-way system, this relationship is dynamic and bidirectional—your brain listens, learns, and rewires itself based on feedback from the body. Understanding this intricate network opens doors to rethinking health, emotion, and disease. 1. The Brain Listens: Vagus Nerve & Organ Signals Illustration of the vagus nerve, highlighting its pathway and connection to vital organs, influencing the autonomic nervous system. Image Credits: advancedbrain.com Signals from organs like the gut and lungs reach the brain via the  vagus nerve . These inputs affect everything from immunity to emotion. Gut microbes, for example, help produce neurotransmitters that affect your mood. “Your second brain—the gut—has more power than you think.” 2. Stress: Friend and Foe Stress activates the  HPA axis  (Hypothalam...
Read more