How do salamanders regenerate lost limbs?
Quick Answer
Some salamanders can regrow entire limbs by forming a blastema, a mass of cells that rebuilds the missing part. This process can also involve regenerating parts of the tail, jaw, or spinal cord.
The Full Story
When a salamander loses a limb, cells near the wound dedifferentiate, meaning they revert to a more flexible state. These cells gather into a blastema, which behaves like a growth zone and rebuilds bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and skin in the correct pattern. Axolotls are among the best-known examples, but several salamander species can regenerate remarkably complex structures. Scientists study them because understanding regeneration may eventually help medicine, though humans do not regenerate limbs this way.
Key Facts
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"How a salamander rebuilds a missing leg from scratch"
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