March 28, 2024

Reshuffled Genomes May Explain Cephalopods’ Smarts

Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University who was not included in either research study, states the studies will help scientists understand how genes, synapses, and circuits produce complicated behaviors. Typically, “genes remain on the very same chromosome,” states Oleg Simakov, a developmental biologist at the University of Vienna in Austria and co-author of the 2015 research study as well as both recently published studies.” Creating new functionality by organizing new genes togetherUnderstanding the evolutionary significance of all this genetic rearranging needed zooming in on gene order. The researchers looked at a particular group of genes that are spread out extensively across 2 chromosomes in the scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis but are densely packed as a cluster in one chromosome of the Hawaiian bobtail squid. Simakov admits that the studies “do not provide the final answer” as to whether these new gene regions are behind the critters outstanding brains.

Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University who was not involved in either study, says the research studies will help researchers understand how genes, synapses, and circuits produce complicated behaviors. Normally, “genes stay on the same chromosome,” says Oleg Simakov, a developmental biologist at the University of Vienna in Austria and co-author of the 2015 research study as well as both newly released studies.” Creating new performance by grouping brand-new genes togetherUnderstanding the evolutionary significance of all this genetic rearranging needed zooming in on gene order.