Physics and Biology Unit | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology OIST

The Physics and Biology Unit closed with the departure of Professor Jonathan Miller on June 7, 2025.

The Physics and Biology Unit develops physical science-based tools aimed primarily at the study of biological systems. Major interests include genome evolution and population genomics to obtain new insight into how genetic variation couples natural selection and evolution.

Footage captured at OIST’s Marine Science Station shows that squid have an amazing ability to change color to match the substrate in order to avoid predation.
OISTのマリン・サイエンス・ステーションで、ツツイカが捕食を避けるために背景に合わせて色を変える驚くべき能力を持っていることを示す映像が撮影された。
https://www.oist.jp/news-center/press-releases/squid-recorded-color-matching-substrate-first-time
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/04/08/squid-changing-color-substrate-scn-lon-orig-tp.cnn

© Ryuta Nakajima, Physics and Biology Unit, OIST

Footage captured at OIST’s Marine Science Station shows that squid have an amazing ability to change color to match the substrate in order to avoid predation.
OISTのマリン・サイエンス・ステーションで、ツツイカが捕食を避けるために背景に合わせて色を変える驚くべき能力を持っていることを示す映像が撮影された。
https://www.oist.jp/news-center/press-releases/squid-recorded-color-matching-substrate-first-time
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/04/08/squid-changing-color-substrate-scn-lon-orig-tp.cnn

Faculty

Jonathan Miller

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Unit News

Two photos from scanning electron microscopes, showing the newfound species of tapeworms.

Research Update

New tapeworm species discovered in oval squid

Two species of cestodes have been found in the guts of wild-caught oval squids.

Oval squids with egg clutches in the experimental tanks at the OIST Marine Science Station.

Research Update

Eco-friendly treatment saves squid eggs from newfound parasite

New “squid killer” species of parasitic copepod has been described and successfully treated.

A brown day octopus, Octopus cyanea, is photographed on top of a coral reef.

Research Update

Scientists record first-ever brain waves from freely moving octopuses

Scientists have figured out how to capture brain activity in octopuses that are awake and moving – a breakthrough step in understanding how the brain controls their behavior.

Researchers design the cheapest and most efficient squid aquaculture system to date

Research Update

Researchers design the cheapest and most efficient squid aquaculture system to date

Squid have always been difficult to farm but now researchers have developed the first squid aquaculture system that has the potential to be commercialized.

Research Update

Squid recorded color-matching substrate for the first time

A new study has found that squid will camouflage against a coral reef or other substrate as a way of avoiding predation.

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Conferences & Workshops

Advances in Live Cell Thermal Imaging and Manipulation

The OIST workshop “Advances in Live Single-Cell Thermal Imaging and Manipulation (ALSCTIM) 2014" aims to catalyze advances in the burgeoning field of live single-cell thermal imaging and manipulation.

Organizers:

Physics and Biology Unit

10 November 2014 - 12 November 2014

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Research Specialties

Machine learning

Physics

Biology

Ecology

Genomics

Marine sciences

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