What is Regeneration?
The term, "Regeneration", talks about the natural process of all organisms replacing or repairing damaged or absent cells, tissues, and organs. Humans regenerate parts of our body all the time. Humans can regenerate the liver, an organ, and a couple of tissues including the skin.
The scientist, Professor Elly Tanaka, from Austria's Research Institute of Molecular Pathology has been researching Salamanders for decades. She believes that research on the amphibian will open up various opportunities in futuristic technology for human regeneration.
She claims that the best regenerative species in the Salamanders is the axolotl. This species of Salamander can regrow or restore entire organs in the exact same shape and proportion as it was originally.
How Do They Regenerate?
Her team figured out that salamander's regeneration-process is responsible by a group of stem cells. These types of cells are special cells that have the ability to develop into many different cell types. Including brain cells or even skin cells. These cells can form into anything, but specifically body parts the body needs.
What does this mean for us?
The chances...aren't unlikely. Tanaka and her team understand that human stem cells are not exactly like the stem cells of a salamander, but she and her team hope they can design special stem cells for human regeneration. It is predicted that before the next century, humans will have found a way for regeneration throughout the body and not simple parts.