This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Imagine losing an arm and simply growing a new one. This amazing ability of regeneration isn't just something from a superhero movie—it actually happens in real life for some animals.
Salamanders are known as champions of regeneration. If a salamander loses a leg, it can regrow another one, complete with bones, nerves, blood vessels and muscles. Some fish are impressive regenerators too.
Zebrafish—small, striped fish that scientists often use to study human diseases—can regenerate injured fins. Even more surprisingly, they can repair damaged parts of important organs such as their heart and brain. Why can these animals regenerate while people cannot?
If you suffer a severe injury, such as losing your hand, your body quickly works to close the wound and prevent infection. However, you cannot regenerate that lost hand. Instead, the wound heals and leaves a scar.
Regenerating animals respond differently to injury. The bodies of these animals close the wound, but they go a step further by activating a cellular and molecular regeneration program. Cells near the injury begin to communicate with one another.
Some become signaling cells that send out messages to activate other cells. The cells receiving these signals produce new cells that help rebuild the missing tissue. When salamanders need to regenerate their limbs or zebrafish their fins, injury cues preexisting cells to return to a more premature state to form a structure called a blastema.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
