Why do some salamanders regrow lost limbs?
Quick Answer
Salamanders can regrow limbs because their cells can revert to a more flexible state and rebuild tissues in a process called regeneration. Axolotls are the most famous example.
The Full Story
When a salamander loses a limb, cells near the wound form a blastema, a mass of regeneration-capable cells that can rebuild bone, muscle, nerves, and skin. Unlike humans, salamanders can coordinate this process with remarkably little scarring. Axolotls, native to lakes near Mexico City, are especially famous for this ability and have been studied for more than a century. Researchers use them to understand how regeneration might work in other animals. Their extraordinary healing is one reason amphibians are important model organisms in biology.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The amphibian that can grow back an entire leg"
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