# Squid Genetic Flexibility Shatters Alien Comparison

> Squid can rewrite their own proteins without changing DNA, making them more alien-like than we thought.
- Title: Squid Genetic Flexibility Shatters Alien Comparison | Shortify
- Summary: Squid can rewrite their own proteins without changing DNA, making them more alien-like than we thought.
- Keywords: squid, rna editing, protein recoding, adenosine deaminase, cell, ucsf, doryteuthis pealeii, proteome, ScienceAlert
- Source: ScienceAlert — https://sciencealert.com/squid-are-even-more-alien-like-than-we-thought-with-an-unmatched-ability-to-change-genetic-expression
- Author: Ivan Farkas
- Published: 2026-10-24T20:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: squid, rna editing, protein recoding, adenosine deaminase, cell, ucsf, doryteuthis pealeii, proteome, science
## Squid's Alien Intelligence
Squid may be as close to alien intelligence as we'll ever know with a diverse evolutionary lineage from a different world.

> Cephalopods like squids may be as close to an alien intelligence as we'll ever know, with a diverse evolutionary lineage from a wholly different world beneath the waves
## RNA Editing Process
Humans and other animals constantly undergo reversible transcriptomic remixing through adenosine deaminase acting on RNA or ADAR-mediated RNA editing.

> this is like printing a recipe but changing raisins to chocolate chips right before handing it to the baker
## Squid's Unmatched RNA Editing
Coleoid cephalopods including squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish have the most robust ADAR-editing ability among animals.

> No other creatures may do this as well as coleoid cephalopods, which include the smart and squishy squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, and it's not even close
## Protein Recoding Effects
Squid RNA editing alters protein activity, stability, localization, and interactions with other proteins.

> We found effects on protein activity, stability, localization, and even how they interact with other proteins. The downstream effects even go so far as to regulate organelle health
## Mitochondrial Adaptation
Squid mitochondria become more environmentally stable and better at recycling themselves through protein recoding.

> Actually, the researchers found that this recoding may make squid mitochondria more similar to human mitochondria: more environmentally stable and better able to recycle themselves
## Theoretical Protein Diversity
Squid could theoretically create more protein variants than all stars, planets, and super-alcohol clouds in the universe combined.

> If we look at all of the sites identified in the RNA sequencing data, it brings the theoretical estimate closer to 10²⁴⁸
## Key takeaway

Squid use RNA editing to create new proteins without altering DNA, showing unmatched genetic flexibility.