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A Genetic Oddity May Give Octopuses and Squids Their Smarts

Rakan Al Dosari

Octopuses edit their own genetic messages, which may explain their clever brains.

An octopus on the sandy sea floor

Octopuses and squids are famously smart: they solve puzzles, open jars and change colour in a flash.

Researchers have found that these animals edit their RNA, the messages copied from their genes, far more than other creatures. This editing may let their nerve cells adapt quickly.

The trade-off seems to be slower evolution of their DNA. It is a fascinating example of how intelligence can arise in very different ways.