Whose work first revealed that axolotls can regrow lost limbs?
Quick Answer
The regenerative abilities of axolotls were documented by 19th-century biologists, including Thomas Hunt Morgan, who studied them experimentally. Axolotls can regenerate limbs, spinal cord tissue, and parts of the heart and brain.
The Full Story
Thomas Hunt Morgan, later famous for genetics, conducted influential early experiments on axolotls in the 1890s. He showed that these salamanders can regenerate complex structures after injury, including entire limbs. The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, has become a model organism for studying regeneration because it can replace bones, muscles, nerves, and skin with remarkable precision. Scientists are still studying its biology to understand whether similar repair pathways can one day help human medicine.
Key Facts
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"The salamander that can regrow its own arm"
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