The Reason Why Octopuses Are So Intelligent

VIVA – Apparently, the octopus is one of the most intelligent sea animals. This is evidenced by the ability of the attack to get food. They can use their vision and camouflage skills to hunt, and their arms to explore, touch and taste their environment to seize every bit of food within reach.

Octopuses are also formidable predators themselves in the sea and their attack mechanisms are suited to the wide variety of prey they consume, including seashells, crustaceans, fish and even other cephalopods.

Recently, researchers have found molecular similarities between the human brain and octopus. Both the human brain and the octopus, both contain transposons or what are often referred to as "jumping genes" in large quantities.

As quoted from Science Alert on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, this transposon was found in LINE (Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements), the part of the octopus’s brain that functions as a cognitive ability. Similar parts of the human brain.

"I jumped from the chair when I saw a very strong signal. When I saw the structure of the brain of an octopus which is a learning center and has cognitive abilities, like the hippocampus in the human brain," Giovanna Ponte said as a biologist from the Stazione Zoologica Research Institute Anton Dohrn, Italy.

Transposons are known as molecules that function to carry out the "copy-paste'' or "cut-paste" mechanism.

In addition, transposons are also DNA that has the ability to move from one place to another, both on the same or different chromosomes.

The finding of transposons in the octopus' brain also leads to the answers behind the intelligence possessed by octopus.

However, this research does not end here. There seems to be a direct connection with the complexity of the nervous system. The nervous system in the brain is no exception.

Furthermore, the researchers are looking for a neurological response that makes the octopus so intelligent when compared to other invertebrate animals.

Researchers will also investigate what brain structure or activity makes it look more like a mammal.