Starfishes: Regenerative Body Parts

Written by Ivory Chen

Some animals – starfishes, salamanders, slugs – have the ability to regenerate their body parts. What’s more interesting, however, is that the regenerated body parts have full neural connections and can function just as well as their original parts. 

The underlying reason behind their seemingly magical regenerative abilities is the gene sox2. When neurons are injured in a starfish, this gene becomes active/expressed. In turn, cells re-enter the neurogenesis program which is commonly seen in early development. Rather than using regeneration pathways, the starfish simply just reverts to developmental programs. 

Studies have reported that the sox2 gene is actually present in humans, although less active, which is why we tend to lack regeneration abilities when it comes to limbs and other body parts. Currently, researchers are using their information on starfishes and other creatures to help develop possible pathways to help in human regeneration. Since the human body lacks abilities to regenerate brain cells in the context of traumatic brain injuries, finding a way to express the sox2 gene would prove useful in the medical field. 

References

University, Carnegie Mellon. “Research Reveals Ways Neurons Are Regenerated in Starfish - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University.” Research Reveals Ways Neurons Are Regenerated in Starfish - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University, www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-events/2022/0317_neuron-regeneration.html. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.

Written by Ivory Chen from MEDILOQUY