The study, presented the other day in the journal Nature, became almost a sensation. It describes that during the analysis of the octopus's DNA, scientists came to the conclusion that these cephalopods actually have alien DNA.
According to the study, octopuses have an incredible genome of 33,000 protein-coding genes. It is noteworthy that this number is significantly higher than similar genes in the human body.
Marine biologists are interested in this discovery, who intend to carefully study the DNA code of these mollusks in order to discover previously unknown characteristics. Thanks to this first-ever complete genome sequence, many of them already confidently claim that octopuses, unlike other animals, are not indigenous to our planet.
This is not the first study to highlight the rarity of octopuses. Previously, they were studied by Dr. Clifton Ragsdale from the University of Chicago, who came to the conclusion that octopuses can not be compared with other mollusks: eight tenacious limbs, a large brain and the ability to quickly solve current problems of their own safety and ensuring strikingly distinguish them from others.
The British zoologist Martin Wells, without a shadow of hesitation, stated that the octopus is an alien. Based on this bold concept, another zoologist, Clinton Rag, suggested that the current study is the first to describe a genome derived from an alien being.
Researchers at the University of Chicago also noted that the octopus genome is actually full of transposons, or so-called jumping genes. These genes can be rearranged in the genome, and scientists have yet to figure out what their real role in the body is. So far, it is only known that transposons are able to regulate gene expression and also significantly affect the general structure of the genome.
Scientists are confident that deeper probing of this issue by marine biologists and finding out if the octopus actually has 'alien' genes could give humanity huge promise. In their opinion, the very existence of such discoveries suggests that earthlings are still far from a full-fledged study of the world in which they live.
Sources: scienceworldreport
