Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) are true masters of biological regeneration. These Mexican amphibians possess such an extraordinary regenerative capacity that they have captured the attention of scientists around the world.
Unlike other animals that form scars when healing, axolotls can completely regenerate:
- Entire limbs with bones, muscles, and nerves
- Parts of the spinal cord
- Fragments of the heart
- Sections of the brain
- Complete eyes
The secret lies in their pluripotent stem cells and a gene called Pax7, which allows cells to dedifferentiate and return to an embryonic state. During regeneration, the cells form a structure called a blastema, which acts as a 'command center' to rebuild the lost part.
Researchers are intensively studying these mechanisms in the hope of applying these discoveries to human regenerative medicine.
Source: Nature Regenerative Medicine
