New research at the UO reveals that they have been using one that has existed for 480 million years. The octopus has just revealed another secret: what determines its sex. Researchers at the University of Oregon have identified a sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus.

Scientists at the University of Oregon uncovered a sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus, dating back 480 million years, making it the oldest known. This discovery adds a new dimension to our understanding of octopus genetics,

Cephalopods may have the oldest sex chromosomes of any animal, according to a new discovery in the octopus genome. That's a big deal given that scientists didn't know until now if these oddball creatures even had a form of sex determination written into their genes. At last, researchers at the University of Oregon appear to have solved the mystery.

Researchers from the University of Oregon have solved a longstanding biological mystery: octopuses utilize a specific chromosome to dictate one’s sex, and it could prove to be amongst the oldest sex-determining methods in the animal kingdom.

The research suggest octopus and other cephalopods, like squid and cuttlefish, all rely on the ancient chromosome to determine sex.

Discover how researchers identified an octopus' ancient sex chromosomes and why their genetic history is such a mystery.