Genome 3D architecture linked to octopus evolutionary complexity

Researchers at the University of Vienna have discovered that the three-dimensional organization of the genome may be a key factor in the evolution of complex nervous systems in coleoid cephalopods, such as octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that an extensive reorganization of the genome occurred hundreds of millions of years ago.

This ancient reshuffling altered how DNA is arranged within cells, bringing previously distant genomic regions into close proximity. This phenomenon, which the researchers describe as ‘regulatory entanglement,’ allows these regions to interact and influence each other's activity, creating interconnected regulatory networks.

Lead author Dr. Thea Rogers noted that the genome is not merely a sequence of genes but a complex three-dimensional structure. Understanding the evolution of this structure provides insight into how new biological complexities and phenotypic novelties, such as advanced problem-solving and rapid camouflage, emerge during evolution.