A new study shows that microRNAs play an important role in human brain development. Scientists find that the brain of the octopus is similar to the smartness and intelligence of a human.
Researchers from Germany’s Dartmouth College and the Max Del Bruck Center have published a research paper in the journal Science Advances. The research paper states that despite being an invertebrate, the number of micro RNAs in the octopus is very high.
Whereas humans, mammals and vertebrates were generally expected to have higher numbers of microRNAs. Research on octopuses shows that the contribution of micro RNA to the development of intelligence is significant.
Studying micro RNA is essential to understanding the complex life of an animal. A team of researchers has attempted to find a link between micro RNAs and tissue development as well as brain evolution.
Variations in cognitive skills and behaviour require new cell types. This is what happens in placental mammals. However, the last 500 million years have not seen much change.
Every time this theory has been tested the results have been the same. Octopus is considered the most intelligent of animals. In 2016, there was an octopus named Inky that managed to escape from a New Zealand aquarium. The octopus displayed considerable intelligence that surprised scientists.
This research was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the National Science Foundation, the NASA Ames Research Center, Dartmouth College, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Troms Research Foundation, the Swedish Research Council’s Strategic Research Area through Stockholm University, and the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research.