A lizard has regenerated a perfect tail thanks to stem cells for the first 250 million years.
Lizards are the only animals that can regenerate their severed tails. They are also the closest relatives to humans who can regenerate an appendage. The replacement tail is an imperfect cartilage structure, instead of the original tail which includes a spine column and nerves. A study led by USC and published in Nature Communications describes for the first-time how stem cells help lizards grow better tails.
This is the first time that the regeneration of a limb has been improved by stem cell therapy, whether it’s in a reptile, bird, or mammal. It also informs efforts to enhance wound healing in human beings, said Thomas Lozito. He’s an assistant professor at the Keck Medical School in Los Angeles, specializing in orthopaedics, stem cell biology, and regenerative medical medicine.
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Aided by stem cells, a lizard regenerates a perfect tail for the first time in 250 million years
