Octopus sucker structure and function
Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Supervisors
Letizia Zullo, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genoa (Italy)
Context
The octopus has eight long and flexible arms with virtually infinite degrees of freedom. Its amazing arm motor abilities are coupled with the extraordinary sensory system of the suckers endowing the arms with the ability of interacting both mechanically and chemically with the external environment. These information are used by the animal to efficiently interact with the surrounding environment as well as in decision-making behaviors.
Objectives
The aim of this project is to investigate octopus arm suckers structure and receptors:
a. Sucker morphology and sensory cells organization
b. Sucker sensory response
The student will learn i) maintenance of live octopuses, animal treatment and procedures for experimental purposes in a closed system aquarium in compliance with ethical requirements; ii) histology, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization on sucker samples; iii) RT-PCR techniques.
https://www.iit.it/people/letizia-zullo
This study will add important information on the involvement of sucker chemical perception in various type of behaviors of octopuses.
Status
Started Fall 2020
Current student involved: Agata Maugeri
Previous students involved: -
Last deliverables: -