Envy the lowly octopus!

According to Scientific American: An octopus can fully regenerate a lost arm.

“The process restores the limb’s muscles, nerves, and intricate suckers, leaving it as good as new.  The regeneration process follows a clear timeline and distinct phases:

Immediate Wound Sealing: Within hours of an injury, the wound contracts and seals to prevent infection in the ocean water.

Regrowth: Molecular signals kick off immediately, with visible nerve regeneration starting within a couple of weeks.

Timeline: Depending on the species and the size of the lost limb, a fully functional arm can regrow in 2 to 4 months

Now – imagine if we humans had the same regenerative powers that an octopus or a salamander has.

A report in Science Daily, June 17, has the intriguing headline: “Humans may have hidden regenerative powers. Scientists may have uncovered a hidden regenerative switch in mammals, opening the door to healing that goes far beyond scar tissue.”

Here is the summary:  “Scientists have taken a surprising step toward unlocking regeneration in mammals, showing that the ability to rebuild complex body parts may not be lost after all—it may simply be switched off. Using a two-stage treatment,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)