Scientists gave octopuses ecstasy and it revealed a secret genetic link to humans

News.com.au ^ | Sept 21, 2018 | Nick Whigham

[ETL]

SCIENTISTS gave the popular party drug MDMA to a group of octopuses and the results were “completely unexpected” and reveal a hidden link to humans

SCIENTISTS have discovered what happens when you give the party drug MDMA to an octopus, and say the animals surprising reaction has “amazing” implications.

A team of researchers in the US decided to give a group of octopuses MDMA, often referred to as ecstasy or Molly to see how it would alter their behaviour.

After being dosed, the sea creatures become much more social, friendly and interested in others.

It made the animals — normally anti-social creatures — want to gather together, hug, and touch each other in a curious fashion.

Remarkably, they exhibited much the same behaviour as humans do when taking the drug that produces feeling of euphoria and a desire for social connection. And that’s the surprising part.

As the researchers pointed out, human and octopus lineages are separated by over 500 million years of evolution and show divergent anatomical patterns of brain organisation. In terms of our nervous system, we could hardly be more different.

The purpose of the study was for scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts to work out if octopuses and humans shared any genetic links.

[RinaseaofDs]

Absolutely fascinating! Great story.

The stuff we don’t know.

[Yaelle]

I was picturing a cute little one and that I could be sober. And there would be other sober people around and more stoned octopuses. And maybe a catered buffet, no seafood, that would be rude.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks ETL.

[null and void]

Do you really want to party with an octopus in a touchy-feely mood?

How is this different than a frequent teenaged girl's dating experience?

[null and void]

[vannrox]

Thanx for posting. This is great.

[Theophilus]

I said ooh girl 
Shock me like an electric eel 
Baby girl 
Turn me on with your electric feel…

[Theophilus]

We finally took him out to the bay and set him free, but he never calls and nev er writes

Love it! Thanks.

[wildbill]

Are the octopi available for sale to consumers afterwards?

They taste like half-baked chicken

[tet68]

Isn’t the plural “octopi”?

Yeah, like in #octopiwallstreet ?

[chajin]

Isn’t the plural “octopi”?
Yeah, like in #octopiwallstreet ?

OK, that there's funny :-)

[SunkenCiv]

I had it at a Greek restaurant in my teens, and enjoyed it. Calamari (tiny whole squid) that I tried in my thirties didn’t have any flavor, and chewed like a shoe sole.

[colorado tanker]

Great thread. BTTT.

[CJ Wolf]

Btt

[PLMerite]

That’s pretty much what humans do...roll over with tentacles...er, legs akimbo.

[SunkenCiv]

I agree, but OTOH, I'm a sucker for a good octopus story.

[Red Badger]

[newfreep]

The Woodstock couple today...