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Lost and Re-grown
07 January 2018

Lost and Re-grown

Replacing lost or severely damaged limbs may be the stuff of science fiction for humans, yet many animals, including fish, amphibians and reptiles, possess such abilities. Among these, axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum, pictured) are the champions of regeneration. These salamanders’ extraordinary capacity to re-grow limbs and organs in adulthood have made them a model species for scientists exploring how the body can recover after injury. Recently, researchers have developed a genetic technique, known as a gene knock-in, to introduce genes into axolotls. This enables them to probe the behaviour of stem cells during limb regeneration: by introducing a gene for a fluorescent marker into specific sets of stem cells, they were able to identify cells contributing to the development of new muscles. This latest step in axolotl research should help further our understanding of the mechanisms of regeneration, in the hope of improving prospects for tissue repair in humans too.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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