{"id":20454,"date":"2026-10-06T10:17:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T10:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=20454"},"modified":"2026-10-06T10:17:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T10:17:32","slug":"why-cant-people-regenerate-limbs-like-salamanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=20454","title":{"rendered":"Why can\u2019t people regenerate limbs like salamanders?"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten:<\/strong> This is a summary of an article from The Conversation, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.<\/p>\n

The Conversation • Junsu Kang, Associate Professor of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison • October 5, 2026<\/strong><\/div>\n\n

Anna from Kansas City asks why some animals like salamanders can regrow limbs while people cannot. Salamanders are known as champions of regeneration because they can grow new legs with bones, nerves, and muscles after losing them. Zebrafish also regenerate fins and even parts of their heart and brain. In contrast, when humans suffer severe injuries, our bodies close wounds to prevent infection but heal by leaving scars instead of rebuilding the missing tissue.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Regenerating animals activate a cellular program where cells near an injury communicate to produce new cells. These cells form a structure called a blastema, which acts like a temporary construction zone filled with building blocks to rebuild tissue. However, these new cells must grow into the correct shape and size while remembering their origin to mature into specific types like bone or muscle cells. They also need precise signals to know when to stop multiplying to avoid uncontrolled growth similar to cancer. Nerves play a crucial role by sending signals that help form the blastema; without them, regrowth can fail.<\/p>\n

Researchers are still trying to figure out why humans cannot regrow limbs like other animals. While humans do regenerate skin, blood cells, and parts of the liver, adult humans lack this limb regeneration ability. Studies on zebrafish suggest evolution often involves trade-offs. For example, male zebrafish develop special fin structures for reproduction that inhibit their ability to regenerate those fins. This implies that specialized features helping survival or reproduction can come at the cost of regenerative ability. Scientists hope to learn these rules from highly regenerative animals to improve tissue repair in humans.<\/p>\n

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Source:<\/strong> The Conversation • Junsu Kang, Associate Professor of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison • October 5, 2026<\/p>\n

Read the original article at The Conversation →<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from The Conversation, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story. The Conversation • Junsu Kang, Associate Professor of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison • October 5,<\/p>\n

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