How do some animals regenerate lost body parts?

Regeneration is a biological process by which lost or damaged tissues, organs or body parts are regrown. While humans are limited in their ability to regenerate body parts, some animals have the ability to regrow entire limbs or other body parts. This process is known as animal regeneration.

Animals like salamanders and starfish are well known for their remarkable ability to regenerate. Salamanders, for example, can regenerate entire limbs, spinal cords, hearts, and even parts of their brains. Other animals like planarians, flatworms, and certain types of fish also have impressive regenerative abilities. While the mechanisms underlying these abilities are not yet fully understood, researchers believe that stem cells, specialized cells capable of dividing and becoming any type of cell in the body, play a key role in the regeneration process.

In addition to providing insights into the basic biology of animal regeneration, research into the regeneration process has significant implications for regenerative medicine, a rapidly growing field that seeks to restore or replace damaged or diseased tissues and organs in humans. By understanding the mechanisms underlying animal regeneration, researchers hope to develop new therapies to treat a wide range of human diseases and injuries, including spinal cord injuries, heart disease, and limb amputations.