Despite what social media’s saying, octupuses are not aliens

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. 

I’m sure you’ve seen the articles claiming octopuses are aliens all over social media lately. Turns out the Chicago scientists who authored the study in question didn’t mean that octopuses are literally from outer space, but that their DNA is just really really weird compared to ours.

“It’s the first sequenced genome from something like an alien,” went the original quote inNature by University of Chicago neurobiologist Clifton Ragsdale. Rather than being from outer space, humans and octopuses actually share a common Earth ancestor, likely a little worm-like creature that lived 700 million years ago.

Related on the SLP

Space twins: Scott Kelly’s one-year space mission could yield genetic bounty Octopuses are incredibly intelligent creatures. Should they receive more protection against scientific experimentation?

‘A new frontier’: Though scorned by RFK Jr., personalized mRNA vaccine offers hope for many suffering from melanoma skin cancer

A ‘shining success’ or ’empty promises’: Two years along, West Virginians assess MAHA’s food promises

Pennsylvania tells doctors to prepare for a surge in newborn measles cases—a complication unseen in decades

In those millions of years a lot has changed. Some of the octopus’s close relatives, other mollusks like clams, aren’t exactly the most bright creatures on our planet. Meanwhile, octopuses can open jars.

Read full, original post: Octopuses Have Weird Genes, But They Are Not Aliens