How do sea stars regenerate lost limbs?

Sea stars, also known as starfish, have an incredible ability to regenerate lost limbs. When a sea star loses a limb due to an injury or predator attack, it can grow back the lost limb over time. The process of regeneration begins with the formation of a special structure called a blastema at the site of the lost limb. The blastema is made up of a group of undifferentiated cells that have the ability to develop into any type of tissue or organ.

As the blastema grows, it begins to differentiate into the specific cell types needed to form the missing limb. Over time, the new limb grows and develops until it is fully functional. Sea stars are able to regenerate not only limbs, but also internal organs, such as their stomach and gonads.