Jakarta –
Recently, a study revealed interesting facts about brain development squid which turned out to be similar to humans. Even so, both clearly do not mean that they come from the same ancestor.
Studies published in the journal Current Biology in December 2022 it concluded that the brains of cephalopods (cephalopods), a term for marine animals that include octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, actually grow the same as humans.
Although the evolution of squid and humans is 500 million years apart, the basic blueprint for how complex brains and nervous systems develop at the species level is probably the same.
Study Revealed Through High Resolution Camera
Quoted from Live Science On Thursday (19/1/2023), researchers revealed this fact through a high-resolution camera that focused on the retina of the longfin squid embryo or Doryteuthis pealeii.
In fact, research or studies on cephalopods have long been of interest to biologists. Because, this animal has an extraordinary memory and is certainly different from most invertebrate animals.
Uniquely, this cephalopod can use tools to solve problems, excels in camouflage, reacts with curiosity and boredom, and is able to dream, you know.
The study sheds light on the fact that a key part of the formula for advanced intelligence remains the same.
“Our conclusion is surprising because much of what we know about nervous system development in vertebrates has long been considered exclusive to that lineage,” said Kristen Koenig, a co-author of the study and a molecular biologist at Harvard University.
By observing the fact that the processes are very similar, what researchers have shown is that both lineages independently developed enormous nervous systems using the same mechanisms to construct them.
This suggests the mechanisms used by animals during development may play an important role in building large nervous systems.
Use of Fluorescent Dye in Studying Squid Embryonic Brains
In studying the embryonic brain squid under development, scientists are using fluorescent dyes to mark a special type of cell called neural progenitor cells.
They did just that before studying how the animals developed with regular 10-minute shots from the microscope camera.
The camera is able to observe the retina, where two-thirds of the squid’s nerve tissue is found. As a result, as in vertebrates, the researchers saw the cells of the squid ancestor organize themselves into a structure called a pseudo-epithelium.
Well, this structure is a long and dense structure that is an important stage in the growth of a large and complex network.
Later, the researchers noted that the size, arrangement, and movement of the nuclear structures closely resembled those of the common neural epithelium in vertebrates.
This neural epithelium was previously thought to be unique and allowed vertebrates to have sophisticated brains and eyes.
Has the Same MicroRNA As Humans
This is not the first time researchers have noticed that cephalopods have the same neurological features as humans. Octopuses and squid also have a wide variety of microRNAs like humans, which are small molecules that control how genes are expressed. Usually these molecules are present in their nervous tissue.
Following this research, the team of scientists wanted to see how and when different types of cells swelled up squid emerged as the tissue grew and compared the process with that of the vertebrate embryo.
“By studying the diversity of life, you can really get back to basic ideas even about our own development,” Koenig concluded.
Watch Video “Cook Cook: Make Squid Gemoy Balado Filled with Tofu“
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(aeb/does)
