Octopus DNA Shuffles Linked to Intelligence in Study of 3 Cephalopods

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Oct 10

University of Vienna researchers found octopus genomes show more DNA rearrangement than squid and cuttlefish, creating extra long-range connections near genes tied to the nervous system.
The October 9 Nature Communications study mapped folded DNA in 3 species and argues those ancient genome shuffles produced “regulatory entanglement” that can drive new traits without disrupting core functions.
A deletion test in 25 squid embryos backed that idea: all showed developmental delays, 5 developed visibly smaller brains, 6 were smaller overall, and genes millions of DNA letters away also changed activity.
The findings suggest genome folding is not just evolutionary byproduct but an active force that may help explain how octopuses evolved unusually large, complex brains for invertebrates.