In a remarkable adaptation strategy, octopuses have been found to fine-tune their nervous systems by editing their RNA in response to cold water.
Unlike DNA, which remains fixed, RNA acts as a flexible messenger between genes and proteins. A new study published in Cell reveals that when octopuses are exposed to colder temperatures, they increase RNA editing at over 13,000 sites in their nervous system—dramatically altering protein function to stay resilient.
This rapid molecular rewiring lets the animals adjust their physiology without changing their DNA, offering a groundbreaking glimpse into how life adapts on a genetic level in real time.
The research, led by Joshua Rosenthal of the Marine Biological Laboratory and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, highlights how cephalopods like octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish manage environmental shifts without internal temperature regulation. Unlike humans, their RNA editing directly impacts protein-building sequences, a process rarely seen in other animals. This discovery not only reveals an ingenious survival strategy but also opens new frontiers in understanding how animals might cope with climate change and extreme environments through flexible genetic expression.
paper
Rosenthal, J., et al. (2023). Massive RNA editing enables octopuses to adapt to temperature changes. Cell.
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