"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

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[–] 40 points 1 year ago* (12 children)

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

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  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago (11 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year 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.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Imagine running around with a child arm for a year or so.

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  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago

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

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  • [–] 31 points 1 year ago (11 children)

    Until they try it on humans and it turns out it also grows cancer.

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  • 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!

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year 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.

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  • [–] 15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 47 points 1 year ago (10 children)

    Does this lead to me getting a bigger dick? Otherwise, I'm not interested!

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  • [–] 42 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    no but if it gets cut off for whatever reason...

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  • [–] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Finally I can get my foreskin back

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    It will. It’ll finally grow back now.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago