Mouse sheds light on Regeneration

[ComradeRed]

Linky (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4888080.stm)

A Lab mouse has regenerated cells from an effect of drugs :o they are still waiting to see if a digit will grow back, but it's healed spinal chord injury, heart injury, and other injuries.

This is rather significant to say the least, very interesting anyways; any thoughts?

[Lord Testicles]

It is significant, if you can help the body heal and grow cells you can stop aging and make humans live far longer if not indefinitely, but im sure they have some work to do yet.

I wonder how they will test it on humans, will they cut fingers off and wait for them to regrow? :lol:

[Severian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2006, 02:28 PM
Linky (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4888080.stm)

A Lab mouse has regenerated cells from an effect of drugs
Actually an effect of genetic mutation, according to the article.

A genetic mutation which also gives these mice a "lupus-like disease." IIRC lupus is an autoimmune disease.

I doubt you could give humans this ability in the same way without huge autoimmune and possibly cancer problems - at least not anytime soon. A lot of those pesky limitations on healing and lifespan come from cell regulatory mechanisms which prevent cancer or othewise keep some of our cells from turning on us. (Cancer cells are immortal in culture - they have telomerase, etc.)

Maybe it could be produced locally with drugs; that's probably the most likely near-term application. It depends on the mechanism by which the mutated genes have this effect; which they're presently trying to figure out.

[Janus]

I remember watching an X-Files episode that dealt with human regeneration. Basically, a doctor slowed down a man's aging and regenerated his hand.

If it is an effect of genetic mutation as Severian said, then I don't think that it can be applied to humans.

[Janus]

The New York Times also ran an article concerning regeneration as well. It seems that some researchers believe that it is possible to manipulate human genes in order to gain regenerative properties like that of amphibians and other animals. Still, I think that kind of technology is still quite far in the future.