A new study reveals the key lies not in the production of a regrowth molecule, but in that molecule's controlled destruction. The discovery could inspire future regenerative medicine.

"In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers reveal an elegant molecular mechanism that acts like a GPS coordinate system for regenerating cells… the puzzle was how the cells in the regenerating limb-stump controlled their levels so precisely to know exactly where they were on the axis from shoulder to hand.”

The Nature paper:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59497-5

  • CaptDust@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    40·
    11 days ago

    Woah, fascinating. Of course very far out, but manipulating and regenerating human limbs in a similar way would be serious sci-fi stuff. Just impressive

    • Sibbo@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      16·
      11 days ago

      Not that I would be an expert, but limbs start forming so early on in the womb, that that will probably be a very difficult thing to do. Nevertheless, never say never.

      • Lumisal@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        10 days ago

        Now’s a good time to point out that the first organ transplant happened in the 1950s, and it hasn’t been even 80 years since, meaning there are not only people alive who remember a time when that didn’t exist, but also there are surgeons who may only be in their early 40s that became transplant surgeons while the first ever transplant surgeon was still alive, and may have even gotten tutelage from him.

      • slaacaa@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        10 days ago

        How it could work in a future: they pre-grow limbs in labs for a few months/yearst, then when somebody needs it, they attach one that matches closely. After that, you get the treatment and the limb continues growing until it reaches the size needed.

      • Rolder@reddthat.comEnglish
        2·
        10 days ago

        Hmm, I think I’d rather have a cool cyberpunk robot limb then just regrowing my shitty old flesh and blood one

    • Nangijala@feddit.dkEnglish
      11·
      10 days ago

      Then they just need to figure out how to use the non-cancer-gene from those blind naked African rats who can run equally fast forward and backwards, look like a wrinkly penis with legs and teeth and are friends with Ron Stoppable and we will have figured out a cure to cancer while regenerating body parts left and right. It’ll be great.

    • MysteriousSophon21@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      10 days ago

      Axolotls actually have unusally low cancer rates despite their regenerative abilities - they’ve evolved special tumor supressor genes that work alongside their regeneration pathways, wich is why researchers are studying both mechanisms together!

    • sylver_dragon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      10 days ago

      That seems to be what they are trying to control. Just “turning on” the regenerative mechanisms is a fast track to a cancerous growth. This research seems to be aimed at understanding how to provide that mechanism with the chemical instruction of what to grow into. While we aren’t there yet, each time a new part of that instruction set is figured out, we get a step closer to regrowing lost tissue. Living organisms are incredibly complex and understanding large, complex processes like growing a limb is going to take a lot of work and time.

  • Pyr@lemmy.caEnglish
    16·
    10 days ago

    I don’t want to know how much testing they needed to do for that

  • OberonSwanson@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    12·
    11 days ago

    At this point, I’m willing to a genetic test subject. Worst case I look like an axolotl, but others will be one step closer to enjoying the fruits.