Finding a real life 'alien' in our oceans

[Bob]

The octopus is an alien

US researcher Dr Clifton Ragsdale, from the University of Chicago, said: "The octopus appears to be utterly different from all other animals, even other molluscs, with its eight prehensile arms, its large brain and its clever problem-solving abilities.

"The late British zoologist Martin Wells said the octopus is an alien. In this sense, then, our paper describes the first sequenced genome from an alien."

Scientists claim a new map of the octopus genetic code has revealed a creature so strange that it could be an "alien".

The creatures have a hugely complicated genome sequence, and have more protein-coding genes than even humans. ( the genome is slightly smaller than a human's )

They inhabit every ocean at almost all depths and possess a range of features that call to mind sci-fi aliens.

These include prehensile sucker-lined tentacles, highly mobile, camera-like eyes sensitive to polarized light, sophisticated camouflage systems that alter skin color and patterns, jet-propulsion, three hearts, and the ability to regenerate severed limbs.

(above, octopus eye)

Analysis of 12 different tissues revealed hundreds of octopus-specific genes found in no other animal, many of them highly active in structures such as the brain, skin and suckers.

(above, highly toxic blue-ringed octopus)

Cephalopods, which include the octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus, are a family of predatory molluscs with an evolutionary history stretching back more than 500 million years to a time long before plants colonised the land.

[Bob]

Some more images:

Published today in Nature, the research reveals striking differences between genome of the octopus and other invertebrates. Those include huge expansions in two families of genes previously thought to be unique to vertebrates, and a complex gene arrangement. The research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The work was conducted by teams from the University of Chicago, University of California Berkeley and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology as part of the Cephalopod Sequencing Consortium.

The sequencing revealed some definite surprises in the octopus genome, said Clifton Ragsdale, principal investigator on the NSF award and an associate professor at the University of Chicago.

"But we expected to be surprised," he said. "These are such remarkable animals."

Source: Genome Sequencing - http://sciencelife.uchospitals.edu/2...ome-sequenced/

[rgray222]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1_y_LDYKnWk

[Limor Wolf]

This next video presents the amazing ability of an octopus (as well as squid and catllefish) to change its appearence:

"When marine biologist Roger Hanlon captured the first scene in this video he started screaming. (If you need to see it again, here's the raw footage.) Hanlon, senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, studies camouflage in cephalopods--squid, cuttlefish and octopus. They are masters of optical illusion. These are some of Hanlon's top video picks of sea creatures going in and out of hiding."


http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10397

[idiit]

octopus fits through small hole on boat

^ ocean rats.

cannabis is also so different and evolved than any other plant life that it has been considered evidence of "transplanted alien life form".

the ed (extradimensional) posts often affirm the concept that gaia is actually a seed planet; we inhabit a planet that is used to grow and transport a prolific quantity of varied life forms to other planets. gaia is reputed among different ed groups to have one the most varied breadth and depth of life forms in any known galaxy. even earth humans themselves are reputed to be "genetic royalty" among sentient life forms due to our genetics. there is reportedly a heavy human slave trade going on interdimensionally because so many near extinct sentient life species desire our genetics for back cross breeding to save their dying species from extinction.

[Bob]

Here is the video in YouTube format with dialog:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=PmDTtkZlMwM

The ability to SEE what the background is and then CONTROL the millions of CHROMATOPHORES is pretty amazing.

The chromatophores are controlled by a set of lobes in the brain organized hierarchically. At the highest level, the optic lobes, acting largely on visual information, select specific motor programmes (i.e. body patterns); at the lowest level, motoneurons in the chromatophore lobes execute the programmes, their activity or inactivity producing the patterning seen in the skin.

In Octopus vulgaris there are over half a million neurons in the chromatophore lobes, and receptors for all the classical neurotransmitters are present, different transmitters being used to activate (or inhibit) the different colour classes of chromatophore motoneurons.

A detailed understanding of the way in which the brain controls body patterning still eludes us: the entire system apparently operates without feedback, visual or proprioceptive.

The gross appearance of a cephalopod is termed its body pattern. This comprises a number of components, made up of several units, which in turn contains many elements: the chromatophores themselves and also reflecting cells and skin muscles.

Neural control of the chromatophores enables a cephalopod to change its appearance almost instantaneously, a key feature in some escape behaviours and during agonistic signalling.

Equally important, it also enables them to generate the discrete patterns so essential for camouflage or for signalling. The primary function of the chromatophores is camouflage.

They are used to match the brightness of the background and to produce components that help the animal achieve general resemblance to the substrate or break up the body's outline. Because the chromatophores are neurally controlled an individual can, at any moment, select and exhibit one particular body pattern out of many.

Such rapid neural polymorphism ('polyphenism') may hinder search-image formation by predators.

Another function of the chromatophores is communication.

Consider with "alien" communications, that the chromatophore mechanism may be a way - communications through rapid image modulation appearing on the body surface.. a perfect way to communicate a complexity of messages over distance without "uttering a word"..

Posted by Limor Wolf (here)
This next video presents the amazing ability of an octopus (as well as squid and catllefish) to change its appearence:

"When marine biologist Roger Hanlon captured the first scene in this video he started screaming. (If you need to see it again, here's the raw footage.) Hanlon, senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, studies camouflage in cephalopods--squid, cuttlefish and octopus. They are masters of optical illusion. These are some of Hanlon's top video picks of sea creatures going in and out of hiding."


http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10397

[woodshreder]

A close friend of mine Dr David Edelman is a Neuro Scientist and studies Octopus.. His research lab was in San Diego at the Neurosciences institute. A few years back Scripps institute of oceanography bought the institute from his late father,Dr Gerald Edelman, a Nobel prize winner who founded the institute.
He moved his entire research lab to Bennington College in Vermont where he was hired as the professor of Neuroscience.

Here's a 50 min presentation of Dave's research about consciousness in these animals.He does refer to.them as alien at times.
https://youtu.be/q2ELSNzlwAI

[Cardillac]

interesting enough (or not) it was just announced TODAY on German radio (what great timing in re: this posting) that a German zoo just acquired a new octopus (it embraced its new chief handler 8 times if you get my drift) and its handlers are completely baffled because this creature can already differentiate between different types of packages among many other things (not that I think octopuses are aliens); but according to the news the caretakers are baffled;

I dunno, guys and dolls, maybe we really ARE being constantly told to look in the wrong direction for answers about so many things (like the sky) and when one considers every single cell in our bodies contains 70%+ water maybe we we should investigate the seas more to find answers about so many things-

just a thought on my part- please be well all-

Larry

[DeDukshyn]

They are also known tool users - they can use shells or various items to help keep them safe by carrying them across the ocean floor when there are no good rocks to hide behind. When danger approaches, they just climb inside and pretend to be a clam / coconut, etc.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=pvzOAnfzR90

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HDab2mX5mXA

The mimic octopus changes its looks and behaviours to mimic other sea creatures for superior camouflage.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=8P9qJr8Pvxs

[rgray222]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=49qfY94N_e0

Stygiomedusa gigantea is a rare alien giant deep sea jellyfish, that has rarely been seen by humans.

The image of the strange creature was captured by an ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) in the Gulf of Mexico.

[Star Tsar]

We know more about space than our own back yard typical of our paradoxical species...
Great thread Bob btw.