Axolotls, salamanders native to Mexico, are known for their remarkable ability to regenerate lost limbs, but now scientists have discovered how they can turn this ability on or off. Researchers from the University of Tokyo have found that the axolotls can trigger their regenerative powers by switching off a single gene.

This new research is a major breakthrough in understanding the process of regeneration, and could lead to new treatments for humans. The study, published in the journal Nature, focused on the axolotl’s ability to regenerate lost limbs. The team found that when the gene for a protein called COUP-TFI was switched off, the axolotl was able to regrow its lost limb. When the gene was switched back on, the regeneration process stopped. This suggests the protein COUP-TFI is an important part of controlling the regenerative process.

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source: Phys.org