Some species, such as salamanders and zebrafish, are capable of reactivating programs of embryonic development following injury in order to regrow limbs and even major portions of vital internal organs. Since mammals share the same ability to conduct embryonic development, it is hoped that all of the necessary biochemical machinery to also conduct complete regeneration of organs still exists in adult mammals, merely suppressed in some way. Researchers investigate the exceptional regeneration of species like zebrafish in search of controlling mechanisms that might be manipulated to turn on the same exceptional regeneration in humans and other mammals. It remains to be seen as to how long this will take, a…
Further Exploration of the Biochemistry of Zebrafish Heart Regeneration
Some species, such as salamanders and zebrafish, are capable of reactivating programs of embryonic development following injury in order to regrow limbs and even major portions of vital internal organs. Since mammals share the same ability to conduct embryonic development, it is hoped that all of the necessary biochemical machinery to also conduct complete regeneration of organs still exists in adult mammals, merely suppressed in some way. Researchers investigate the exceptional regeneration of species like zebrafish in search of controlling mechanisms that might be manipulated to turn on the same exceptional regeneration in humans and other mammals. It remains to be seen as to how long this will take, a…