Eight-legged evolution exploits editing

RNA tweaks adapt octopuses to water temperature

The frigid waters of the Southern Ocean don’t slow Antarctic octopuses down, even though their nervous systems are governed by the same genetic instructions as their tropical counterparts. Now scientists know why: Edits to the creatures’ genetic instructions tweak the octopuses’ nerve cells for smooth operating in the numbing polar waters.

EVOLUTIONARY EDITING The nervous system of this warm water-dwelling Octopus vulgaris (shown) functions smoothly thanks to edits in the animals’ RNA, while cold-water species have comparable edits for chilly waters.