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Octopuses have complex DNA, researchers say

The first full genome sequencing of an octopus has revealed that octopuses are very different from all other animals.

Furthermore, their genome has 33,000 protein-coding genes identified. This is more than humans.

According to the Metro:

US researcher Dr Clifton Ragsdale, from the University of Chicago, said: “The octopus appears to be utterly different from all other animals, even other molluscs, with its eight prehensile arms, its large brain and its clever problem-solving abilities.”

The researchers found unique genetic traits likely to have played a role in the evolution of characteristics of octopuses. Examples would be their complex nervous system and camouflage abilities.

Co-author Caroline Albertin noted that the octopus genome was shuffled as though it had been “put into a blender and mixed”.