How do animals regrow their limbs? And why can't humans do it? - Jessica Whited
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For some animals, losing a limb is a decidedly permanent affair. But for salamanders, particularly axolotls, amputation is just a temporary affliction. Not only can they grow back entire limbs in as little as six weeks, they can also regenerate heart and even brain tissue. So, how does this astonishing adaptation work? Jessica Whited explores the incredible regenerative capacity of salamanders.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Watching a time-lapse video of a real life salamander regenerating a limb is a cool way to see how this really looks! Or, you can peek into the history of salamander limb regeneration and learn more about how limbs regenerate in this article. A deep dive into the complex biology of the regenerating limb blastema and its possible evolution might sate your curiosity, or perhaps excellent resource for exploring the many kinds of amphibians on earth!
Axolotls are native to Mexico, but they are critically endangered in the wild. To learn about current efforts to help protect wild axolotls and restore their habitat, read this piece from Vox. Are you interested in keeping salamanders as pets or talking with people who do? Check out Caudata to learn more about these fascinating creatures and caring for them. You can read on here to learn about the various different axolotl morphs, or coloration patterns, common in captivity and the genetics behind these differences.
Did you know that axolotls in captivity can sometimes metamorphose into a land-dwelling version? Learn about that process and follow the transformation here. Information about the International Society of Regenerative Biology, a recently-formed professional society of scientists who study limb regeneration can be found here. The Amputee Coalition is an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of people with limb loss.
Axolotls are native to Mexico, but they are critically endangered in the wild. To learn about current efforts to help protect wild axolotls and restore their habitat, read this piece from Vox. Are you interested in keeping salamanders as pets or talking with people who do? Check out Caudata to learn more about these fascinating creatures and caring for them. You can read on here to learn about the various different axolotl morphs, or coloration patterns, common in captivity and the genetics behind these differences.
Did you know that axolotls in captivity can sometimes metamorphose into a land-dwelling version? Learn about that process and follow the transformation here. Information about the International Society of Regenerative Biology, a recently-formed professional society of scientists who study limb regeneration can be found here. The Amputee Coalition is an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of people with limb loss.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Jessica Whited
- Director Anton Bogaty
- Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
- Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
- Composer Cem Misirlioglu
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Script Editor Nidhi Upadhyaya
