Dudes,
Actually, this article rocks! This is astouding news! Essentially, you have a cloned cell or cells (actually, probably grown in a culture medium), that apparently shows reception of certain neurotransmitters thought to be found only in vertebrates. The Xenopus of which they speak is probably Xenopus laevis or Xenopus mullieri which are species of African clawed frogs.
Oh, and cDNA are strong, cloned copies of messenger RNA, which is the messenger element of DNA that helps in the coding of proteins.
The fact that there are receptors mean that the DNA of these octos has a region that codes for the given neurotransmitters. Since neurotransmitters affect behavior, the production of this transmitter may indicate an affinity for behavior or explain certain behaviors questioned by scientists. It also helps us crack their genetic code.
Basically, regions of DNA code for proteins, or polypeptides, as the case may be. These regions of DNA code for the same polypeptide, no matter the species.
Sweet giant anteater of Santa Anita! This goes way beyond convergent evolution! This means that cephalopods are utilizing more neurotransmitters than previously thought! I need this article....
Thanks for the heads up!
Sushi and Sake!
John