A recent research shows that the same ‘jumping genes’ are active both in the human brain and in the brain of two species, Octopus vulgaris, the common octopus, and Octopus bimaculoides, the Californian octopus.
- This discovery could help us understand the secret of the intelligence of these fascinating organisms.
- The octopus’ genome, like ours, is rich in ‘jumping genes’, most of which are inactive.
What are Jumping genes?
- Transposable elements (TEs), also known as “jumping genes,” are DNA sequences that move from one location on the genome to another.
- These elements were first identified more than 50 years ago by geneticist Barbara McClintock of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York.
- Over the next several decades, it became apparent that not only do Transposable elements “jump,” but they are also found in almost all organisms (both prokaryotes and eukaryotes) and typically in large numbers.
- Sequencing the human genome revealed as early as 2001 that over 45% of it is composed by ‘jumping genes’.
- Similarly, Transposable elements (TEs), make up approximately 90% of the maize genome.
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