Finger Regeneration Closer to Reality
The idea of kids that blew their fingers off with firecrackers regrowing those fingers like starfish is closer than ever. According to nature.com, scientists figured out how tadpoles regrow a leg or tail.
Tadpoles can achieve something that humans may only dream of: pull off a tadpole’s thick tail or a tiny developing leg, and it’ll grow right back — spinal cord, muscles, blood vessels and all. Now researchers have discovered the key regulator of the electrical signal that convinces Xenopus pollywogs to regenerate amputated tails. The results, reported this week in Development, give some researchers hope for new approaches to stimulating tissue regeneration in humans.
Researchers have known for decades that an electrical current is created at the site of regenerating limbs. Furthermore, applying an external current speeds up the regeneration process, and drugs that block the current prevent regeneration. The electrical signals help to tell cells what type to grow into, how fast to grow, and where to position themselves in the new limb.
I found that rather cool. In ten years there very well may be a way to fix things like this.
Blog-a-thon 2007, Uncategorized 
28 February 2007, 22:07
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That’s quite interesting to find out… I wonder how many pollywogs they had to kill for this though. =T
Wow. That’s awesome. And the Futurama example was pure genius xD
@Maria
I’d hope they didn’t have to kill them. It seems to me like the sort of experiment they don’t have to kill for, but I’m not sure. =\
@Evie
I should use Futurama examples for all my science-nerd posts. Fry is a genius. XD
Haha that’s a funny picture. I knew tadpoles could regenerate body parts, but I didn’t know research has come this far.
About your hosting deal…I can’t find your email anywhere so I have to ask here if you’d be willing to consider hosting a blog/site. My last host sold her domain recently so all my stuff is gone. It would be great if you could email me back.
This is an interesting post. I didn’t know tadpoles could grow their tail/leg back. And I thought lizards could only do that.
@Clara
I emailed you about this, also the hosting section is now redone and up.
@syaz
Lizards can do that?!
Well, I guess we both learned something.