Regeneration

Regeneration is a process that allows living organisms to restore lost or damaged parts of their bodies. This process is common in many species, including starfish, planaria, and salamanders, but is limited in others, such as humans and other mammals.

Overview

Regeneration can occur in many different ways using pluripotent stem cells. Some organisms, like planaria, have a large number of pluripotent stem cells that can regenerate the entire organism. Others, like starfish, can regenerate from a single arm, while others, like salamanders, can regenerate lost limbs, tails, and parts of their hearts and eyes.

Types of Regeneration

There are two main types of regeneration: morphallaxis and epimorphosis. Morphallaxis is a form of regeneration where the remaining tissue reorganizes itself to form the missing parts. This is common in simple organisms like hydra and planaria. Epimorphosis, on the other hand, involves the growth of new tissue at the site of the wound. This is common in complex organisms like salamanders and starfish.

Regeneration in Humans

In humans, regeneration is limited to certain tissues, such as the liver, skin, and blood vessels. However, some tissues, like the heart and brain, have limited regenerative abilities. Research is ongoing to understand why some tissues can regenerate while others cannot, with the hope of developing treatments for diseases and injuries that currently cannot be cured.

See Also

• Stem cell
• Regenerative medicine
• Tissue engineering

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