"While some other creatures, most notably salamanders and starfish, can regenerate entire limbs, mammals don't have this evolutionary superpower. The big question is: Why are mammals limited?"
"How rich a tissue is in hyaluronic acid and how well it can sense oxygen may affect its ability to regrow and heal, a pair of new studies published in Science on Thursday suggest."
"The researchers found that mice with a partial finger amputation could regrow part of their finger more easily and with less scarring when there were higher levels of hyaluronic acid in the animals' extracellular matrix."
Mammals, unlike some species such as salamanders, have limited regenerative capabilities. Research indicates that genetic factors and environmental mechanisms, particularly the presence of hyaluronic acid and oxygen sensing, play significant roles in tissue regeneration. Studies show that higher levels of hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix enhance the ability of mammals, like mice, to regrow parts of their fingers after amputation. These findings could lead to advancements in wound treatment and the potential for regrowing larger human tissues, including limbs.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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