On the blue planet of the earth, the evolution and development of life has drawn a magnificent picture of nature. From the first life in the oceans to the diverse biomes of today, the pace of evolution never stops.
During these long years, not only did humans stand out and develop splendid civilizations, but other creatures also showed amazing intelligence. The octopus, a biological wonder of the sea, has attracted great interest from the scientific community with its unique nine-brain structure and powerful gene-editing capabilities.
Octopuses have one of the highest IQs in the animal kingdom, as they are able to use their nine brains to work together to process complex environmental information, and they can also modify their own genetic traits through gene editing. This ability is extremely rare in the animal kingdom, and one can't help but marvel at the evolutionary miracle of the octopus. However, despite such a high IQ and unique biological characteristics, octopuses have not developed a civilization like humans. The reason for this is a question that biologists, philosophers, and even ordinary people are extremely curious about.
The unique life characteristics of the octopus
Octopus, the name may conjure up images of countless tentacles waving, but there's so much more to the octopus than that. As a member of the mollusk, the octopus has unique living habits and physiological structure. They usually inhabit rocky caves or jar-like containers on the ocean floor and feed on shrimp, crabs, and plankton. Octopuses not only have eight long tentacles, but also special glands that can spew ink in times of danger, characteristics that make them unique in the marine ecosystem.
And in the head of the octopus, the source of their wisdom is hidden, the nine brains. One of the central brains located in the head is responsible for processing major information and decisions, while the other eight brains distributed in tentacles are responsible for more specific motor control. This distributed brain structure allows the octopus to achieve more precise and flexible control when performing complex movements. Unlike the human brain, where all neurons are concentrated in one place, the octopus's neurons are spread across nine brains, a unique design that not only makes the tentacles extremely flexible, but also enhances their ability to learn and adapt.
The mystery and wisdom of the octopus brain
The octopus's nine-brain structure is its most striking biological feature. These nine brains are not simply copy-paste, but have their own division of labor and work together. The central brain is responsible for overall coordination and decision-making, while the distributed brain in each tentacle is more focused on local perception and response. Such a structure allows octopuses to perform several complex tasks at the same time without interfering with each other.
Scientific studies have shown that although the number of neurons in the brain of octopuses is not as large as that of humans, the design of its distributed brain provides higher computational efficiency. In behavioral experiments, octopuses demonstrated amazing learning and problem-solving skills. For example, they are able to learn to open the cap of a bottle containing food by observing and experimenting. In more complex maze experiments, octopuses can also quickly find their exits, which proves that they have a high IQ.
Not only that, but the octopus can also perceive external information through the contact of tentacles and perform fine operations. Scientists have observed octopuses using tentacles to unscrew bottle caps and even use tools to protect themselves, such as hiding themselves in coconut shells to avoid predators. These behaviors demonstrate that the octopus is not only physically flexible, but also has a certain degree of abstract thinking and the ability to use tools.
Why the high IQ of the octopus did not blossom and bear fruit
Although the octopus's IQ and learning ability are quite prominent in the animal kingdom, there is still a significant gap between it and the development of human civilization. The reason why human beings have been able to create civilization is not only because of their developed brains, but also because of the unique cultural and knowledge inheritance mechanism of human society. Although octopuses possess nine brains and the amazing ability of gene editing, their habits and physiology limit their potential for further development.
Octopuses have a relatively short lifespan, typically only 7 years, which means they don't have enough time to accumulate and pass on complex knowledge. In addition, octopuses tend to live solitary and secretive lifestyles, lacking frequent social interactions, which reduces the opportunities for information and learning between them. What's more, octopuses have not developed a language-like communication system, which makes it more difficult to pass on knowledge.
In terms of the number of neurons, the total number of neurons in the brain of octopuses is about 500 million, far less than the 100 billion in humans. The number of neurons is directly related to the complexity of the brain and its ability to process information, so the octopus's brain may have limitations in dealing with complex problems and abstract thinking. The stability and lack of drastic changes in the marine environment may also lead to octopuses not facing enough pressure to survive and promote civilization.
Although the biological characteristics and living environment of octopuses give them the advantage of survival under certain conditions, they also limit their possibilities on the path of evolution. This limitation has allowed octopuses, although intelligent, to develop the same complex social structures and civilizations as humans do.
Multiple factors in the development of civilization
The contrast between octopuses and humans provides us with a window to think about the conditions for the development of civilization. The progress of human civilization is not only the product of brain intelligence, but also the result of environmental pressure, social structure, cultural inheritance and other factors. Environmental changes in the Great Rapid Fracture Valley (RIFT) have prompted our ancestors to move out of the forest, stand up and have their hands free, and develop the ability to use tools, communicate language, and collaborate in community. Octopuses, despite their high IQ and talent for gene editing, have failed to follow a similar path due to the stability of their living environment and the lack of necessity for social interaction.
The development of human civilization benefits from the accumulation and inheritance of knowledge. The advent of writing has made it possible for information to be transmitted to future generations across the limitations of time and space. The octopus's lifestyle does not provide the right conditions for this knowledge to be transmitted. The lack of continuity and coherence in their lives makes it impossible for even useful knowledge and skills to be effectively preserved and disseminated.
When assessing the intelligence and civilizational potential of octopuses, we must take into account the unique ecological niche they face. The survival strategy of the octopus, while very successful in marine ecosystems, does not provide the soil for the emergence of complex social structures or civilizations. Therefore, although octopuses have shown similar intelligence to humans in some aspects, they are still in their infancy in the development of civilization.
Deep thinking on wisdom and civilization
As a part of the earth's biodiversity, octopuses, with their unique nine-brain structure and high intelligence, do provide us with valuable insights into the evolution of life. However, the example of the octopus also tells us that the development of wisdom and civilization is a complex process of multiple factors. In the future, as we continue to explore the mysteries of life and the margins of the universe, the wisdom of the octopus may become a new perspective for us to think and solve problems.