Cephalopods, including squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, can rapidly camouflage in different underwater environments by employing multiple optical effects including light scattering, absorption, reflection, and refraction. They can do so with exquisite control and within a fraction of a second—two features that indicate distributed, intra-dermal sensory and signaling components. However, the fundamental biochemical, electrical, and mechanical controls that regulate color and color change, from discrete elements to interconnected modules, are still not fully understood despite decades of research in this space. This talk highlights key advancements in the biochemical and structural analysis of cephalopod skin and discusses compositional connections between cephalopod ocular lenses and skin with features that may also facilitate signal transduction during camouflage and inspire the next generation of advanced optical materials.

Production of communicative optical materials: From nature to materials

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.