Sepia officinalis Genome sequencing. Sepia officinalis

The BCM-HGSC is sequencing and analysing the genome of the European cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) using the read data generated by the Illumina platform. This is one of the most intelligent invertebrates, their expanded nervous system evolved independently of the large mammalian brain. Cuttlefish exhibit extraordinary ability to rapidly change color, pattern and texture, for camouflage or communication, with pigmented chromatophores and reflective iridophores in their multi-layered skin, a mechanism being engineered into smart clothing. Cuttlefish produce ink to evade predators and regenerate lost limbs after attack.