<i>Octopus bimaculoides</i> (IMAGE)

Johns Hopkins Medicine

<i>Octopus bimaculoides</i>

Caption

By studying the genome of a kind of octopus not known for its friendliness toward its peers, then testing its behavioral reaction to a popular mood-altering drug called MDMA or 'ecstasy,' scientists say they have found preliminary evidence of an evolutionary link between the social behaviors of the sea creature and humans, species separated by 500 million years on the evolutionary tree.

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Tom Kleindinst

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