First Complete Octopus Genome Sequence Discovered

by | Aug 13, 2015 | Science | 0 comments

genome-glossaryScience is a wonderful and fascinating thing that never ceases to amaze us. Scientist’s now discovered the first complete genome sequence for any octopus. A genome is the complete set of genetic material in a cell or organism. To put it another way, a genome is like an instruction book on how to to recreate an organism. And also, how to know what that organism will need to maintain itself. The octopus sequence was published in Nature International Weekly Journal of Science. It was no easy task. The scientists first had to grow a California two-spot octopus in the lab. Discovering just what makes an octopus an octopus should unleash questions to answers which have puzzled scientists and layman alike. We all have been wondering how octopus use all those arms or how they become so smart? This is information will also help scientists determine how octopus, rarely fossilized, may have evolved. The genome sequence revealed some interesting stuff, for example, octopus can taste with their suckers. They also discovered that the comparatively large size of the octopus genome wasn’t due to duplication, like previously believed. Scientists believe the octopus has duplicated its genes through evolution, and acquired new genes. Talk about one smart octopus!! Genome sequencing is very complex and I certainly don’t speak the language, but I think it is clear that this knowledge discovery will yield new findings to a wealth of fields. MORE

  • Francis Yupangco

    Francis is a marine biologist with an MBA and over 20 years of professional aquarium experience. Francis is the former Aquatic Development Manager at Hagen USA., makers of Fluval brand aquarium products. He co-stars on Nat Geo WILD's reality TV series Fish Tank Kings where he is the resident "Fish Geek" and was Director of Marketing at Living Color Aquariums. He is an avid explorer having visited over 45 countries and lived in 7. At 17, he was among the youngest aquarists ever hired by the Vancouver Aquarium, where he worked for 7 years. His aquatic biology experience ranges from larval fish rearing to the design, construction and operational management of renowned public aquariums around the world. Francis is currently head of marketing at the world's largest vertically integrated fish farming company.

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