Humans have always been fascinated with the salamander's ability to regenerate lost limbs. Now scientists studying salamander genes have discovered that the process isn't quite as complicated as once thought.
Researchers are hopeful, but also aware that early experiments in replicating this cell process can lead to uncontrolled growth, meaning cancers. Link
By tracking individual cells in genetically modified salamanders, researchers have found an unexpected explanation for their seemingly magical ability to regrow lost limbs.
Rather than having their cellular clocks fully reset and reverting to an embryonic state, cells in the salamanders’ stumps became slightly less mature versions of the cells they’d been before. The findings could inspire research into human tissue regeneration.
“The cells don’t have to step as far back as we thought they had to, in order to regenerate a complicated thing like a limb,” said study co-author Elly Tanaka, a Max Planck Institute cell biologist. “There’s a higher chance that human or mammalian cells can be induced into doing the same thing.”
Researchers are hopeful, but also aware that early experiments in replicating this cell process can lead to uncontrolled growth, meaning cancers. Link
Way to catch up, Reality!
LOL
Wish they can get a break through in that!!
1) You might get your arm back, but turn into a raging lizard-man.
or,
2) You may grow four ADDITIONAL arms, then have to fight a vampire that looks like Michael Jackson.
And what would you tell Aunt May?
http://www.popcultureshock.com/cbclub/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/morbius-1.jpg
And that's Gil Kane's Morby. I like P.Craig Russell's version better.
I'm such a geek.
Nice try - the research has been going on WAAAAAAAY before Obama was a sparkle in some Senate race. Plus the concept (the exact "Salamanders will show us how to regen limbs") has been kicked around since the 60's (and probably before that).
SCIENCE might actually be able to come up with technology to save the world - but the odds of the politicians and military types letting them is somewhere between slim and none.