Tiny salamander’s huge genome may harbor the secrets of regeneration.

[2greys]

The type of salamander called axolotl, with its frilly gills and widely spaced eyes, looks like an alien and has other-worldly powers of regeneration. Lose a limb, part of the heart or even a large portion of its brain? No problem: They grow back.

“It regenerates almost anything after almost any injury that doesn’t kill it,” said Parker Flowers, postdoctoral associate in the lab of Craig Crews, the John C. Malone Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and professor of chemistry and pharmacology.

If scientists can find the genetic basis for the axolotl’s ability to regenerate, they might be able to find ways to restore damaged tissue in humans. But they have been thwarted in the attempt by another peculiarity of the axolotl — it has the largest genome of any animal yet sequenced, 10 times larger than that of humans.

news.yale.edu/2020/01/28/ti...

[RoadRunner44]

Oh I find this fascinating 2greys. We have still, so much to learn and discover. Thanks for posting

[HungryHufflepuff]

Fascinating. I wonder why it has such a huge genome. Is that why it has these regenerative abilities?

[megshafer]

So fascinating.....the world is moving into the 21st century....abit 20 years late!

Take care 2greys....stay well.

[HungryHufflepuff]

I meant to say a few years ago the British Heart Foundation had the zebra fish as a symbol for one of its campaigns because it can repair its own heart. The BHF were hoping to find out how it did that and try to recreate that in people. I don't know if that's still something that's being researched 🐠