News Animals

RNA editing helps octopuses cope with the cold

Changes in DNA’s instructions tweak proteins that may sustain brain function

A California two-spot octopus against a black backdrop

A California two-spot octopus is one type of cephalopod — along with California market squid — that edits mRNA in its nervous system in response to cold water.

Tom Kleindinst

By Freda Kreier

The ocean can be a cold place to call home. Mammals like seals stay warm by enveloping themselves in a layer of thick fur and blubber. Cephalopods — the group of (mostly) ultrasmart mollusks that include squid and octopuses — don’t have that luxury.